 Newmarket
Twinning Association
For 56 years Newmarket has been twinned
with Maisons-Laffitte (Yvelines) and its
smaller neighbour Le Mesnil-le-Roi. The bond
between these towns, being their involvement
in horse-racing.
While it is not the oldest U.K./France
twinning, it is believed to be the longest
continuous running society. Since 1954 there
has never been a year without some twinning
activity taking place.
The idea of forming a twinning link came
ironically from an ex-Newmarket resident
living in Maisons-Laffitte. Barry Lynham,
MBE and his family moved to France in the
1920’s, where his father took up racehorse
training in Maisons-Laffitte. Barry was
quick to master the French language and as a
young man became a sports commentator with
Radio Paris, covering such events as The
Davis Cup, Le Mans 24 Hours etc.
Following the fall of France in 1940, Barry
escaped to England and volunteered for the
newly formed S.O.E. taking off, from of all
places, from Newmarket Heath. Barry was
parachuted back into France and under the
false identity of Frederic Navarre, joined a
Resistance group close to the town of Pau in
the south-west. His mission there was to
help escapees and downed airmen cross the
border into Spain.
Back in the Paris region in August 1945, he
joined up with an American army unit and
with his language skills and knowledge of
the locality, assisted in the liberation of
several towns close to Maisons-Laffitte. For
his wartime exploits, Barry was commended
and decorated by the governments of Great
Britain, France and the United States of
America.
In 1954 Barry took his idea of a twinning
with Newmarket to the Maisons-Laffitte
Council, who gave their approval for him to
make contact with Newmarket Urban District
Council. Following a joint meeting, a
constitution was drawn up, and the first
visit took place in April 1955, when a group
of Newmarket youngsters travelled to
Maisons-Laffitte. More exchanges soon
followed with other groups, such as sports
clubs, car enthusiasts, ramblers, amateur
dramatic groups etc. all “twinning” on a
regular basis.
Newmarket Twinning Association continues to
play an active role in providing help and
encouragement to individuals and societies
who wish to share their interests with our
friends “across the Channel”.
We, as members of the Twinning Association
look forward to our next big milestone in
2014, and trust that our efforts will see
Twinning in as good a shape then, as it is
now.
Michael J. Nicholas
Vice-Chairman Newmarket Twinning Association
Committee:
Chairman Bill Maclean
Vice-Chair Mike Nicholas
Treasurer Derek Nicholson
Membership Secretary Simon park / Barry
Salter
Members:
Brian Gray
Eric Maguire
Ann Jessett
Tony Truman
Contact: Mike Nicholas on 01638
664531 or email
mike_nicholas@btinternet.com
For more information and details please use
the following link to our website:
http://newmarkettwinning.webplus.net
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