A DELEGATION from Winchester’s twin city in Germany has visited the UK to see the Statue of Licoricia outside the ARC in Jewry Street.

Eighteen visitors from Biebertal, near Giessen, including the mayor, Mrs Ortmann, were greeted by the deputy mayor of Winchester, Cllr Russell Gordon-Smith, and Danny Habel, a trustee of the Licoricia of Winchester Appeal, on Saturday, July 8.

The guests sat in the ARC café with a coffee and listened as Danny informed them that his parents came to England in 1939 as refugees from Germany.  He went on to explain the reasons for commissioning the statue.

The statue of Licoricia is one of fewer than 40 in England and Wales of a woman who is not a royal. She was a woman who was a leader of the city’s Jewish community in the 13th century. She was murdered along with her Christian maid.

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Considered a role model for women, she demonstrates the contribution minority groups have made to the city.

Her personal discussions with King Henry III when the royal court came to Winchester is an illustration of the city’s royal history.

The project received huge publicity after it was announced that the then Prince of Wales was coming to Winchester to unveil it.

Danny also spoke to the group about why Jewish people came to England with William the Conqueror, how they lived and how they participated in life until the expulsion from England of all Jews by Edward I in 1290.

He also told the audience about the Licoricia of Winchester Appeal, an educational charity that uses Licoricia as a vehicle for teaching the importance of tolerance, diversity and anti-racism.

The Deputy Mayor then escorted the guests back to their coach as they set off for North Wales.