South Yorkshire Times September 3, 1966
Conisbrough – in Faraway Japan.
In faraway Japan, it seems, they know all about Conisbrough Castle. The famous keep gets a special mention in a letter received this week by the vicar of Mexborough, the rev. J. Metcalfe who is chairman of the International Service Committee of Mexborough and District Rotary Club.
Closer Links
The Mexborough club is in a Rotary district which is trying to establish closer links between British and Japanese Rotary clubs. Nearly 2 years ago the Mexborough club sent a friendly message to the Japanese club which they had been paired, the Kakogawa club.
This week’s reply, an airmail letter dated, September 1st, was written by Dr. Kyohi Nakan, chairman of the Japanese international service committee, he is a doctor “serving as president of Kakogowa city hospital.”
A Japanese Castle
“As you have a famous castle, Conisbrough, in your territory,” he writes, “we have the most beautiful Japanese Castle, Himiji, near this city. The year before last I wrote about the history of Conisbrough Castle on our club bulletin, referred to the printed matter Conisbrough Castle, Yorkshire, by M. W. Thompson M. A., Ph. D., Assistant inspector of ancient monuments, if you visit this part of the world my family and I will be most pleased to welcome you and show you our section of Japan.”
The letter was read at Tuesdays meeting of the Mexborough club by president, Rtn. M. H. D. Snape, who said they were glad to have this gesture of friendships from fellow Japanese Rotarians.