On Friday 20th September, Malmesbury Twinning Association and Malmesbury Town Council, hosted a very special civic event. The 70th year of friendship with our twin town of Niebull in Germany.
Youth exchanges between Malmesbury and Niebull, Germany were initiated after World War II to promote reconciliation and friendship. The first exchange took place in the summer of 1954 when a group of young people visited Malmesbury, with Cyril Cartmell being the driving force behind this exchange. Cyril was the Youth Leader in Malmesbury, running the town's Youth Centre from 1947.
In attendance were the Mayor Cllr Phil Exton and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Stephen James. Cllr Ray Sanderson, Cllr Catherine Doody, Cllr Kim Power, Cllr Campbell Ritchie, Cllr Robert Hastings, Cllr Lesley Crawford-Price, Cllr Gavin Grant and Cllr Karen Drake. Chair of Malmesbury Twinning, Julia Bowen and other committee members. And our friends from Niebull.
L to R Anja Cornils: Chair Twinning Committee in Niebull and the Mayor, Cllr Phil Exton.
L to R Bob Brastock (original participant 1954), the Mayor Cllr Exton, Julia Bowen (Chair: Malmesbury and District Twinning Association)
and Jill Stephens (original participant 1954).
Photography by Richard Harris.
