Lyme Regis and St George’s, Bermuda Twinning
History
The relationship between Lyme Regis in Dorset and St George’s in Bermuda is rooted in one remarkable early seventeenth century voyage, and in the life of a sailor who belonged to both places through history: Admiral Sir George Somers.
Sir George Somers was born in Lyme Regis in the mid-sixteenth century and became a distinguished seaman, soldier and politician. He served as a Member of Parliament and later as Mayor of Lyme Regis.
In 1609 Somers was appointed admiral of the Sea Venture, part of a fleet carrying settlers and supplies towards Jamestown, Virginia. Caught in a violent hurricane, the Sea Venture became separated from the fleet and was wrecked on the reefs of Bermuda.
Rather than being a disaster that ended the expedition, the wreck became the beginning of a remarkable chapter in Bermuda's history. Somers and the other survivors spent approximately ten months on the islands, constructing buildings and vessels before continuing their journey. The episode ultimately contributed to the establishment of the English colony of Bermuda.
Somers returned to Bermuda in 1610 but died there. His heart was buried on the island, in what is now St George's, while his body was brought back to England and buried at Whitchurch Canonicorum, near Lyme Regis.
This unusual division of his remains created a lasting physical connection between the two communities: his heart in Bermuda and his body near his Dorset birthplace.
Although the formal twinning is relatively recent, the historical connection between Lyme Regis and St George's reaches back more than four centuries.
Interest in turning that shared history into a modern friendship grew particularly strongly during the twentieth century. In 1984, a statue of Sir George Somers was unveiled in St George's, helping to reinforce his importance to Bermuda's heritage.
The personal efforts of town criers Richard Fox of Lyme Regis and Donald Burns of St George's were particularly important in developing the relationship. In 1994 they helped establish the Lyme Regis–St George's Twinning Association and encouraged exchanges between the two towns.
The relationship was formally recognised in 1996, when Lyme Regis and St George's became officially twinned. The ceremony was held in Lyme Regis, at the historic Cobb.
A particularly memorable part of the celebrations was the creation of matching time capsules, containing photographs, documents and other material representing the two communities. They were intended to remain sealed until the centenary of the twinning in 2096.
The twinning is not simply a historic declaration; it continues through annual visits and ceremonies.
During July, representatives from St George's travel to Lyme Regis for Somers Day. The traditional parade proceeds through the gardens and along the seafront before reaching the Cobb, where a ceremony commemorates Sir George Somers and celebrates the continuing friendship between the two towns.
The connection works in both directions. Lyme Regis representatives travel to Bermuda to participate in St George's annual Peppercorn Ceremony, creating a reciprocal cycle of visits and civic friendship.
The ceremonies give the twinning a distinctive character. In Lyme Regis, the Cobb, the place associated with Somers's return to England, provides the setting for remembrance. In St George's, the Peppercorn Ceremony reflects the traditions of the historic town and its own connection with Somers.
Ed Christopher, Town Crier for the City of Hamilton in Bermuda (left) with Alan Vian, Lyme Regis Town Crier, standing either side of the Admiral Sir George Somers statue
The link has also expanded beyond the original two-town relationship. In 2015, Lyme Regis, St George's and Jamestown, Virginia, became connected through what Lyme Regis Town Council describes as the Historic Atlantic Triangle. This reflects Somers's original voyage: he was attempting to reach Jamestown when the Sea Venture was driven onto Bermuda.
Lyme Regis also commemorates its connection to Somers with a bronze statue overlooking the Cobb. The statue was unveiled in 2016, providing a prominent reminder of the sailor whose extraordinary voyage connects the Dorset coast with Bermuda.
In 2026, the relationship reached a significant milestone: the towns celebrated the 30th anniversary of their formal twinning. The July Somers Day celebrations brought together civic representatives from both sides of the Atlantic for a commemorative parade and ceremony at the Cobb.
The story of Lyme Regis and St George's is unusual because the partnership is founded on a very specific historical figure, but has developed into something much broader.
For Lyme Regis, Sir George Somers is part of the town's maritime heritage and its story of exploration. For St George's, he is associated with the extraordinary circumstances that led to the establishment of the English settlement of Bermuda.
The modern twinning allows both communities to remember that shared history while creating new relationships between their residents, civic institutions and cultural traditions. What began with a shipwreck in 1609 has therefore become, more than four centuries later, an enduring friendship between two historic Atlantic towns.
