Crowborough and Montargis
A war-time association between Colonel Maurice Buckmaster and
the Resistance Leader M. Jean Laurent led to the establishment of
Crowborough’s twinning with Montargis, which was formalised
in a Charter Ceremony held at Montargis on May 22nd 1966.
Since that date, Crowborough has developed ever closer links with
its twin town with the vigorous support of the Society for the Friends
of Montargis and its French counterpart, les Amis de Crowborough.
In pursuit of the official Charter, these societies organise annual
exchange visits in each direction, and support official contacts
between civic representatives. Sports and social clubs in the town,
including those for football, rugby, table-tennis, cycling, swimming,
chess and philately all have links with their French counterparts.
The Friends of Montargis promote links between the towns at all
levels. For example, they have supported exchanges between schoolchildren
of all ages, and have offered help in the arrangement of visits
by the Royal British Legion and the Anciens Combattants de Montargis.
The twinning societies are enthusiastic to support business and
educational links between the two towns. A number of young Montargois
wishing to learn English regularly seek employment or links for
correspondence. For those in our local community wishing to develop
closer ties with France, The Friends of Montargis are always ready
to offer help with translation, or arrange business or cultural
contacts with the support of their French counterparts.
As a result of all of this activity, many people in Crowborough
have forged strong personal and official links with friends and
acquaintances in Montargis. Some regularly visit or entertain privately
their French friends. The towns have experienced thirty-five years
of twinning, and the bond between them remains strong and vigorous.
The Town Council and The Friends of Montargis work closely together
to ensure that the links established so long ago continue to thrive,
and this partnership ensures close official and personal links between
the two towns. In April 2001 the Town Council and the Friends of
Montargis planted a tree at Canada Green in memory of the establishment
of the Twinning.
In common with many other communities throughout Britain and Europe,
Crowborough celebrated the advent of the Single European Market
with the lighting of the Crowborough Beacon on 31st December 1992.
As contacts between France and the south-east of England continue
to develop, Crowborough is well placed to make its contribution
towards the strengthening of both personal and commercial links
with England’s nearest neighbour at the beginning of the twenty-first
century.
Crowborough and Horwich
The towns of Crowborough and Horwich became twinned at ceremonies
held at Horwich on 22nd March 1990 and at Crowborough on 27th March
1990. The aims of the twinning are to promote exchanges of a cultural,
social and sporting nature of interest to our populations and to
promote and develop understanding, mutual respect, fraternity and
friendship between the people of Crowborough and Horwich.
Whilst enjoying a long established overseas twinning, the Council
was concerned that there were communities to the north as far away
as Montargis of which very little was known and a decision was made
to try and bridge the so-called ‘north/south divide’.
The town of Horwich is situated five miles north-west of Bolton
and approximately five miles north-east of Wigan. It is surrounded
by natural beauty and nestles on the slopes of the moors, with the
valley to the south, moors to the north, the Anglesarke recreation
area to the west and within walking distance of the Rivington area,
now one of the north-west’s premier beauty spots.
Like Crowborough, Horwich enjoys easy access to its surrounding
countryside. Horwich is a market town and has a population which
approximates to that of Crowborough. Horwich was one of the earliest
centres of cotton spinning in Lancashire and cotton mills remained
the main source of employment until the opening of the railway locomotive
works in 1896. In 1983 the greater part of the British Rail Engineering
Workshops closed and currently many new and diverse industries have
appeared.
The Park is six hectares ie fifteen acres; a peaceful wildlife haven
supporting an important range of natural habitats; located on the
old brickworks site, and stretches from Tollwood Road in the West
to Osborne Road in the East within the urban fringes of Crowborough
in the area of Jarvis Brook.
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