Detailed Twinning history

This society was first conceived in 1992 and the following piece written by Janice Mackelden tells us how it came to be started.

The Mackelden family was returning from a boating holiday on the Canal de Nivernais in Central France. It was late afternoon on a Saturday when they arrived at a small village of St Leger en Yvelines located 60km south west of Paris. The village has a population of 1,300 inhabitants and is in the middle of the forest between Montfort l’Amaury and Rambouillet.

They were having a drink in a small café opposite the Town Hall when they noticed that it had been decorated with flags and was attracting many visitors. They decided to make a visit and see what was going on. Inside was an art exhibition which turned out to be just one attraction in a day of activities for the ‘Fete Jean D’arc’.

They got talking to various people including Peter Townsend (former friend of Princess Margaret, who was a ‘local’), but one other local stood out because of his excellent understanding of the English language. He was Deputy Mayor Gabriel Fodor.

An invitation was extended by Monsieur Fodor to the Mackelden’s to join in the Firework Parade and Display later. Before they knew what was happening, they had booked for the night into ‘Le Belle Adventure’, a local hotel.

The evening was a great experience led by the Mayor Monsieur Francois Pic Paris, whose enthusiasm knew no bounds!  Just the sight of him dancing and singing around the bonfire with the whole village following him, showed how much the people admired him!

Before the night was out, Gabriel Fodor had suggested that as Turners Hill and St Leger were so similar in size, type and position in relation to the country capital, the coast and forest and also that both were closely associated with agricultural life, we should consider a ‘twinning arrangement.

Janice Mackelden, who was the District and Parish Councillor for Turners Hill at the time, said that she would raise the subject back home and see if there was any interest. The next day the Mackelden’s made ready to leave. The Mayor, with others, was waiting in the car park to bid them farewell. A group of St Leger fireman playing long horns and in uniform piped them away on their journey!

1993 saw a small deputation from Turners Hill return to St Leger, 11 in all including Beryl Dunlop, John and Marie Loxton, Roger Stokes, Ann Fox, Audrey and Jim Walker, Jean Bayne, Geoff Draper and John and Janice Mackelden. They liked what they saw and were certainly made to feel welcome. They travelled in the Imberhorne School minibus driven by John Mackelden which proved very cosy and created a team spirit.

And so it was, that the Turners Hill Twinning Association was officially inaugurated with Denis Munday elected as its first Chairman. The committee was made up of eight people who drew up and adopted its constitution.

Aims and Purpose of the Twinning Association

The Twinning Charter was duly signed with great pomp and ceremony and can be seen in The Ark, Turners Hill. The following extract best summarises our objectives:

We the undersigned being respective Chairman of Turners Hill Parish Council and the Mayor of St Leger-en-Yvelines, duly elected by our inhabitants, wish to satisfy the hope and needs of our citizens, know that our western civilisation was born in early communities like ours and that the spirit of liberty was first included in the freedoms which they conquered……

Considering that the history must evolve in a broadened world which can remain humane only if our people live in free communities……

Decided solemnly today……

• To maintain between our villages all kinds of permanent links.
• To favour all sorts of exchanges between our citizens so as to develop the feeling of fraternity through deeper understanding