Linlithgow is twinned with Guyancourt, a town in France situated some twenty kilometres south-west of Paris. The first connection with Guyancourt was made in 1984 when Linlithgow Academy chose its Paul Eluard school for a school pupils exchange. Prompted by the successes of the first exchange visits the mayor of Guyancourt contacted Linlithgow Community Council, itself actively seeking a twin town for Linlithgow, to offer his town as a twinning partner. In 1985 both Linlithgow Community Council and the Conseil Municipale in Guyancourt agreed to the twinning of the two towns. Following formal twinning ceremonies held in both towns the twinning was fully established in July 1989.
'Vive la difference' aptly describes the two towns! Apart from the obvious differences in language and culture, Guyancourt's proximity to the largest city in France means that it is very different from Linlithgow. It can be argued that in these differences lies the justification for the twinning. As the barriers throughout Europe are dismantled what better way to appreciate the differences between its peoples than to integrate in a friendly manner with the people from our twin town.
Guyancourt is a very old town with the area believed to have been inhabited in prehistoric times and the name of the town first appearing in historical records about the year 1000. Thirty years ago its population was only 1500 but, since that time, it has enjoyed a growth rate even greater than that of Linlithgow, such that its present population is about 30,000. This growth has resulted from a decision taken in the mid-sixties to create a massive new town to the south-west of Paris. The new town is called St Quentin-en-Yvelines and it comprises seven 'communes', one of which is Guyancourt. St Quentin-en-Yvelines presently has a population of about 150,000 and the area is the major development of the western Paris region, although care has been taken to preserve the natural beauty of the area.
Fast road and rail links connect Guyancourt to the centre of Paris, still the most popular of European cities in both summer and winter. Lying only a short distance from Guyancourt, towards Paris, is the historic town of Versailles containing the most luxurious chateau ever built. Much of the chateau has been restored and it is renowned as a tourist attraction. Bounded to Guyancourt, though not part of St Quentin-en-Yvelines is St Cyr L'Ecole which has been twinned with Bonnyrigg for many years.
The Linlithgow Twinning Association was formed in 1987 at the behest of the Linlithgow Community Council to formalise the twinning between the two towns as agreed in 1985 and to promote and establish future links. The original link between Linlithgow Academy and Paul Eluard continues with annual exchange visits; Linlithgow Rugby Club has established an exchange with the rugby club in Guyancourt and visits coincide with the rugby internationals at Murrayfield and the Stade de France; the Twinning Associations in the two towns arrange annual exchange visits between groups of townspeople staying with families in the respective towns. Letter exchanges between Primary Schools, football, basketball, judo and squash team visits and innumerable exchange visits between families are further evidence of the successes to date of the Linlithgow Twinning Association but the scope is, of course, endless.
The twinning between the two towns is for the benefit of all and the Linlithgow Twinning Association seeks to encourage everyone to participate. Hence there is no formal membership of the Linlithgow Twinning Association - everyone in the town is deemed a member if they wish - and only a small annually-elected management committee looks after the affairs of the Association.
Pegnitz : Guyancourt is also formally twinned with Pegnitz in Bavaria and Linlithgow and Pegnitz enjoy links as 'cousin' towns! Exchange visits between Linlithgow & Pegnitz take place annually thus expanding our twinning link to Germany as well as France.
For more information :
Ian Donaldson
17, Rockville Grove, Linlithgow
Tel. : 843854
Email : ian@dnldsnia.freeserve.co.uk
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