Keeping the twin link alive
MARK PIRIE
East Kilbride Twinning Association are appealing for new members to keep alive their unique links with Ballerup in Denmark.
The association formed the twinning link between East Kilbirde and Ballerup over 50-years-ago – making it the longest-running and most successful Twinning group in South Lanarkshire.
The group received a visit from Ballerup locals to attend the AGM and learn something about Scottish culture.
The Danes visited Glasgow and Stirling prior to the office bearers for the forthcoming year being re-elected.
The committee organised a fundraising ceilidh for the following evening and welcomed their Danish visitors.
They were able to enjoy the Scottish hospitality and learn some traditional dances. Depute Provost Colette Stevenson, attended the ceilidh.
The visitors and some of the hosts then headed to Oban for a two-night stay.
Some of the East Kilbride members of the association will be going to Ballerup in August to attend the Ballerup AGM and the Ballerup Musikfest, a biennial music festival.
The festival features a wide range of music from all over the world, including Haggerdash, a Scottish folk band from Lanarkshire, who have taken part in the festival over many years.
Barrie Crawford from the Twinning Association told the News that they are always looking for people who would be interested in joining to foster good relationships between the two towns.
He said: “We don’t receive council funding and are all volunteers, so it can be quite hard sometimes to keep the connections going.
“We are always looking for new members to help us keep this link going.
“It’s such a historic connection, and there is a lot of goodwill towards the group that helps us put on events every year.
“We are a very small group and it would be great to get a few more on the committee or to help us.”
Anyone seeking more information should contact Alison Littlewood, the association secretary, by emailing her at littlewoodaj@ yahoo.co.uk