Calne Twinning Association

As our friends in Caln Township, Pennsylvania, celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence today, we send our best wishes from Calne. Our twinning link is a reminder of the lasting friendships that can be built across oceans and generations. We are delighted to mark this historic occasion alongside our twinned community, and wish everyone in Caln Township a wonderful celebration. Oyez, Oyez, Oyez! Let it be known that in this year of 2026, as the United States marks its great Semi quincentennial, the Town of Calne sends warm congratulations across the ocean to our friends in Caln Township, Pennsylvania. Though an ocean divides us, we are united in name, in spirit, and in our shared devotion to community, service, and liberty. Today we celebrate the friendship between our two towns and reaffirm our commitment to goodwill, respect, and cultural exchange. May this bond endure, honouring our shared past and embracing a future of kindness and partnership. God bless...

With the 250th anniversary of the United States approaching on July 4th, I am honoured to share this message of friendship with our counterparts in Caln Township, Pennsylvania during their celebrations between the 18-21 June 2026. On Monday, June 15th,  the Full Council of Calne Town Council  officially ratified this declaration that follows. This document has been signed by Tim Havenith, Town Mayor 2026-27 and Acting Proper Officer, Mark Edwards: Presented to Caln Township, Pennsylvania on the Occasion of the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America Whereas , the year 2026 marks the Semi quincentennial of the United States of America, a milestone of profound historical significance and an enduring legacy of democracy; Whereas , Calne Town Council recognises the deep cultural and historical ties between our communities, rooted in shared values of liberty, civic service, and community pride; Whereas , the Town of Calne and the Township of Caln, though separated by ...

  A twinning visit between   Eningen-unter-Achalm   and   Calne   took place from 8   to 12   May 2026 and provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen the long-standing friendship between our two communities. The visitors from Eningen included Mayor Eric Sindek, Ute Petrik, senior staff member from Eningen Council and her partner Rolf, together with Klaus and Luzia from the Twinning Partnership. During their stay, the group experienced a varied programme showcasing community life, education, heritage, recreation, and local culture in Calne and the surrounding area. Twinning delegation at Marden Vale Academy, where they were treated to a wonderful singing assembly by the children. Following their arrival on Friday 8 May, the delegation enjoyed lunch in Hilmarton before visiting Marden Vale Academy and taking part in a guided walking tour of Calne led by Nick Baxter. The evening included a traditional fish and chip supper and an informative discuss...

To mark this anniversary, I’ve included a digitised copy of the original twinning agreement signed by Calne Town Mayor Don Wiffen on behalf of Calne, alongside a full transcription for clarity and accessibility. This historic document, dated May 1988, formalised our enduring friendship with Eningen and laid the foundation for decades of cultural exchange and civic collaboration. Digitised copy of the agreement between Calne and Eningen. Whereas the Council for the Town of Calne Wiltshire England and the Council for the Town of Eningen unter Achalm West Germany have agreed by resolutions to form a twinning arrangement now this document records that they formally resolve: - 1. To honour this twinning arrangement by establishing and maintaining friendly relations with each other 2. To foster and develop mutual understanding and respect between the people of Calne and the people of Eningen 3. To encourage and assist youth and adult organisations, Clubs companies, groups and all classes of ...

We have some wonderful news to share regarding our town’s connection with Eningen. Calne Town Council has officially agreed on a budget to host representatives from our German twin town, ensuring a warm and proper welcome. A special thank you goes to Town Mayor, Cllr Ian Thorn, for his generous allocation of £1,500 toward the visit. Looking further ahead, the Council has also committed to including twinning in our future Five-Year Plan, securing a dedicated budget for years to come. Plans for the upcoming visit are already well underway. The itinerary is being expertly managed by Jon Fisher, who brings firsthand experience to the role after participating in our last visit to Eningen during his time as Mayor. Get Involved! Twinning is all about community. If you’d like to express an interest in getting involved or volunteering your time, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch at: calnetwinning@gmail.com

Seasons greetings to our twin towns of Caln Township , Ville de Charlieu and Eningen unter Achalm . We wish you all a wonderful time, along with a happy and healthy 2026.

  Dear Friends in Caln, On behalf of everyone here in Calne, I offer warm greetings and best wishes to all of you as you celebrate Thanksgiving.   This is a wonderful time to reflect on the importance of community, friendship, and our shared history. Our enduring bond as twin towns exemplifies the spirit of unity and collaboration that Thanksgiving inspires.   As you gather around your tables, know that your friends across the Atlantic are thinking of you and wishing you a joyful celebration.   Happy Thanksgiving!   Warm regards, Cllr Ian Thorn Calne Town Mayor 2025/26

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, completed by Sheila Thornton and Ray Downham 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-g...

Calne Twinning Group Update from meeting on 11 March Claire Kitt appointed Chair. Mission statement in progress Funding discussions for Caln, PA visit underway Grant application for 2025 activities being developed Fire Service exchange with Eningen planned. WhatsApp group started (if you wish to join please email calne@calne.gov.uk) 2025 Aspirations: Caln, PA visit (May) German delegation (Oct) Fire Service exchange. Next Meeting: Tuesday 25th March, 6.30pm, Council Chamber at Town Hall.

  Calne Town Mayor - Cllr Jon Fisher is hosting a meeting and inviting you to join him to discuss twinning, future plans and to form a new group on 27 January at 6pm in the Calne Town Hall. We are fortunate to have strong connections with our three Twin Towns. Calne is twinned with ... Charlieu, France since 1970 Caln, Pennsylvania, USA since 1982 Eningen-unter-Achalm, Germany since 1988 INTERESTED? More information and RSVP to calne@calne.gov.uk 01249 814000 or via Ticketsource  https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/calnetowncouncil/t-gakxnqe

Dear Friends in Caln,   On behalf of everyone here in Calne, I extend warm greetings and best wishes to all of you as you celebrate Thanksgiving.   This special holiday is a wonderful time to reflect on the blessings of community, friendship, and our shared history. Our enduring bond as twin towns exemplifies the spirit of unity and collaboration that Thanksgiving inspires.   As you gather around your tables, know that your friends across the Atlantic are thinking of you and wishing you a joyful celebration.   Happy Thanksgiving!   Warm regards, Cllr Jon Fisher Calne Town Mayor 2024/25 To discover more about our twin town, Caln, head to their website or Facebook page .

In September, to include Eningen in the Calne Pig Parage, a blank paper mache pig was sent, along with a pig specially designed for Eningen .  The Eningen-designed pig has now returned! There will be more information to come, but for now, see the photos and artist design statement below. Calne Mayor's pig and the Eningen pig side-by-side. Eningen pig, featuring the Calne flag, which was designed by Kevin Hatchman. The puzzle design features a lovely patchwork of images. Supplement to the artistic design of "Das Schwein"....."the pig" Occasion: 50 years - arts und music festival calne (Eninger Artist: Wolfgang Huckauf-Schwarz, mail: huckaufschwarz@t-online.de: insta-account: husart_rt) Ideas, considerations on the process and design: The basis is the colours of the logo of Eningen (green, white, black) and the city flag of Calne (green, blue, yellow, white) with acrylic paints. The coloured areas are partly represented as puzzle pieces (community life and culture...

Calne's Town Mayor Jon Fisher, Deputy Mayor Ian Thorn and Director of Council Services Alison Robinson visited one of our twin towns, Eningen-unter-Achalm on the weekend of the 18 October to discuss 'twinning with a purpose'. The Calne contingent were welcomed by Eric Sindek (left), Mayor of Eningen unter Achalm. Town Mayor Jon Fisher is calling for 'twinning with a purpose' to be the basis for future partnership activities between the towns. It is an opportunity for the towns to learn from each other and see first-hand how some practices and ideas already in motion in Eningen could benefit our town.  This first visit was based on building an understanding of the two town's very differing local government structures, practices, and procedures. Ideas generated from this visit included looking at how Calne Town Council could use systems and processes used by Eningen to enhance their operations and exploring the potential of taking on some of the activities Wiltshi...

This agreement between Calne and our good friends in Charlieu, France, hangs inside the entrance to our Town Hall. Signed by Ray Downham on behalf of Calne and P Bay on behalf of Charlieu, the agreement reads: In a spirit of friendly cooperation between Britain and France The town councillors of Calne, England, and Charlieu, France, have, in 1970, decided to proclaim the twinning of their towns- they hope, thus, to contribute to the mutual understanding between the peoples of Britain and France and it is to embody this idea that a delegation of Calne is here in Charlieu this 17th of October 1970 -

The township of Caln, Pennsylvania, was founded in 1714 by settlers from Calne, Wiltshire, England. It is a First Class township with a population of over 14,000. Caln is part of the Coatesville Area School District and is home to the historic Coatesville VA Medical Center and Ingleside Golf Club. The township also has over 200 acres of green space and parks. One of the most notable landmarks in Caln is the Caln Meeting House, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Another important historical site is Carver Court, a historically African American housing development completed in 1944, which was also listed on the National Register in 2016. 2012 anniversary document courtesy of Calne Heritage Centre. In addition to its historical significance, Caln offers residents and visitors a variety of amenities, including shopping, dining, and recreational activities. The township is also well-connected to nearby cities and towns, with easy access to major highways a...

Photo via  Eningen unter Achalm Facebook The pig arrived in Eningen by post today. In addition, an unpainted pig also arrived, which will now be decorated by an artist from Eningen in the coming weeks and will then be exhibited in Calne as a work of art from Eningen.

Our friends from our twinned town of Eningen have been represented in the Calne pig parade . This pig will be sent to Eningen, along with an undecorated pig for them to decorate and send back for display in Calne. Eningen is situated in Swabia, Germany and nestles in the countryside between the exposed mountain peak of the Achalm and the sheer drop of the Swabian Alb, rich in forests and rocks. Eningen is a pretty and lively community. It is an ideal starting point for hikers, and the Eninger Weide recreational area includes game reserves with deer, wild boar and mouffon. Via Calne Town Council

July 17th 1982 marked the official beginning of Twinning between Caln Township and Calne, Wiltshire, England. Visits between the two began back in 1968 during the Centennial of Caln when then Calne's Mayor Ray Downham & his wife Jean visited Caln and started the relationship between the two municipalities. In 2008, shortly after Downham's death, the Calne contingent visited Caln with Ray's wife, Jean. On the last day, a tree planted and dedicated to Ray, such an ardent supporter of Twinning was revealed at a ceremony. During the 2018 visit to Caln, Cllrs Ansell and Merrick visited the tree, which was still performing magnificently. The most recent visit between the two towns was Caln's visit to Calne in 2022, sadly marred by the ongoing Covid pandemic. Cllrs Ansell and Merrick at Caln's tree commemorating Ray Downham Also see, article from  dailylocal.com  and Caln Township newsletter . 

Yesterday we were visited by a group of scouts from our German twinned town of Eningen-unter-Achalm. The young people are spending time visiting other scouts groups and have met up with scouts from Calne during their visit. Our new Town Mayor, Cllr Fisher and Director of Council Services, Ali Robinson met the group at Bank House to learn more about their journey and one scout even enjoyed a swapping of neck attire!   Via Calne Town Council

Image via  Eningen unter Achalm (schwaebischealb.de) Calne twinned with Eningen in 1988 through the driving forces of Don Wiffen representing Calne and Jürgen Steinhilber for Eningen , both mayors of their respective towns at the time.  In  1987, the Calne Silver Band visited Eningen, delivering   enthusiastically received concerts together with the Musikverein Eningen, as a result of which a group from Eningen and others, consisting of Mayor Steinhilber and some local councillors, visited the town of Calne in September 1987. It was decided to enter into an official partnership, which was to be sealed over the weekend of 26–29 May 1988 in Calne.  Unfortunately, the partnership deed was not signed together, because a strike by the ferry crews of the P&O line in the Channel ports led to kilometre-long truck traffic jams. The truck drivers therefore blocked the entrances to the ferry ports. A closed trip of a group was therefore not possible....