Initially the town of Sailly-sur-la-Lys sent a letter to many towns in England to the local Council Officers asking them to consider twinning with them. A public meeting in Carnforth decided that an Association be formed to consider the request from Sailly and to host a visit by their representatives in November 2002. Officers of the Association were appointed prior to the visit.
After the visit by 6 representatives of Sailly, they decided that Carnforth was the most appropriate town for a twinning link up. They also thought that they received the most hospitable reception of all of the towns. Agreement between the two towns to formalise the Twinning (Jumelage) was in the summer of 2003.
The ceremony was in two parts. The first was in the town of Sailly at the end of May. A V Cortanbosch & Frank Barton (Deputy Mayor) and the second in mid June in Carnforth, Mayor of Sailly, A V Cortenbosch and Mayor of Carnforth Sheila McNulty.
Agreement between the Councils of the two towns established the Twinning. The Twinning Association started with around 20 people from Carnforth and at the start of 2009 has a membership of just over 60 people, individuals, couples and families.
Sailly is a town in NE France, near the Belgian border with a population of 4500. Very close to Lille a major city in France, and many of the people work in Lille and live in Sailly.
Many reciprocal visits have taken place between the two twinning Associations along with visiting Policemen, football teams and Brass bands which strengthen the ties between the two towns.
