Celebrating 50 years: Two projects uncover Derby’s stories and connections

5050. Stimmen der Freundschaft. Voices of Friendship. Derby and Osnabruck.

As part of Derby’s year-long 50:50 celebrations, Derby Libraries is inviting local people to get involved in two exciting heritage projects marking two important 50-year milestones: Derby’s historic twinning with Osnabrück and the city’s 50th anniversary of being granted city status.

The two projects will explore different aspects of Derby’s past, from the personal friendships created through international twinning to the people, places and events that have helped shape Derby as a city.

Voices of Friendship: Celebrating 50 years of twinning with Osnabrück

Derby Local Studies and Family History Library has teamed up with Osnabrück to collect “Voices of Friendship” stories celebrating Derby’s historic connection with its German twin city.

To celebrate 50 years of Derby’s twinning with Osnabrück, Derby Local Studies and Family History Library is gathering memories, photographs and stories to create an archive of ordinary people’s twinning experiences.

The 'Voices of Friendship' archive will preserve these shared moments of hospitality, laughter, and cross-generational connections, making them available online for future generations to explore and enjoy.

To mark the midpoint of Derby’s year of celebration on 17th August, the library has now teamed up with the Osnabrück Division of the Lower Saxony State Archives in Germany. As a result of this collaboration, the Voices of Friendship project is now also known as ‘Stimmen der Freundschaft’, with the invitation to share stories extended to our friends in Osnabrück!

Both archives have also begun sharing their respective collections on Twinning with each other, to create a more comprehensive resource for the people of both cities to access.

If you have a twinning experience to share – whether it was a school exchange, playing in a band, hosting visitors from Osnabruck, or just a family holiday, we’d love to hear from you! It can be as long or as short as you like.

If you have a story to share, you can submit it directly using the online form. Alternatively, record a short video or audio clip on your smartphone and email it to localstudies.library@derby.gov.uk.

When the project was launched, Councillor Nadine Peatfield, leader of Derby City Council, said:

“Fifty years of twinning is an incredible milestone, and at the heart of this connection lies the personal friendships formed between the people of Derby and Osnabrück over the decades.

“We want to capture the laughter, the exchanges, and the lasting impressions that official documents simply can’t show. By contributing your 'Voices of Friendship', you are helping us preserve a living history of international connection that future generations can look back on and enjoy.”

All the memories shared will be compiled into a commemorative bound volume which will become part of the library’s permanent collection. This will be available for public viewing later this year, while a digital version will be included in the online archive ‘Derby’s History’ in 2027.

Osnabruck Day in Derby took place on Saturday 6 June 2026, and launched a year of activity for the city’s 50:50 celebrations. The June event brought together a mix of live music, performance, hands-on workshops, and creative art installations celebrating dance and global traditions. For more information go to the Visit Derby website.

50 Years a City! 50 Stories

The second 50:50 heritage project, 50 Years a City! 50 Stories, will celebrate another important anniversary: 50 years since Derby was granted city status.

Derby Libraries is looking for volunteers to join the project, learn about the city’s heritage and help tell the stories of 50 notable people, places and significant events from Derby’s past.

Volunteers will have the opportunity to delve into Derby’s archives and discover stories from the city’s history. The finished stories will be made available on Derby’s History, the library’s online digital archive, creating a new resource for people to explore and enjoy.

What will be involved?

Volunteers will be asked to:

  • Visit the library weekly 
  • Dig into old newspapers, books and documents
  • Study maps, plans and photographs
  • Collate their findings and write a short summary about their chosen topic or person

Along the way, you will:

  • Build your research skills
  • Explore Derby’s archive
  • Receive support and guidance throughout the project
  • Help build a new resource for others to enjoy

The project will continue into 2027, with the aim of completing all 50 stories in time for the 50th anniversary of Derby’s city status on 7 June 2027.

Interested in volunteering?

If you’d like to be part of 50 Years a City! 50 Stories, register your interest by 31 March 2027:

Telephone: 01332 642240
Text: 07584 268351
Email: localstudies.library@derby.gov.uk.

Whether you have a passion for local history, enjoy researching, or simply want to discover more about the place you call home, this is an opportunity to help uncover and preserve Derby’s stories for future generations.