Calne’s 1991 Twin Town Awards Entry
In 1991, Calne stepped onto the national stage with a heartfelt submission to the Royal Mail International Twin Town Awards—a competition designed to honour towns that champion international friendship, cultural exchange, and community spirit. At the heart of Calne’s entry was a story of people-powered diplomacy. With no financial backing from the Town Council, the Calne Twinning Association had, for over two decades, built bridges across borders through volunteer-led exchanges with Charlieu in France, Caln Township in Pennsylvania, and Eningen in Germany. These weren’t just ceremonial links—they were living relationships, nurtured through school visits, concerts, civic events, and shared celebrations. The application documented a vibrant calendar of activities: a 60-person delegation to Charlieu with a model of Calne’s town centre redevelopment; a French market in Calne’s Town Hall; the naming of “Calner Platz” in Eningen; and multi-generational friendships that continue to this day....