Trowbridge was approached by the Polish town of Elblag in October 1998, suggesting a tripartite link, Elblag already being twinned with Leer, Trowbridge's twin town in Germany.

Undoubtedly due in large measure to the active support of the Polish community living in Trowbridge, a steering group was formed.

After exploratory meetings in West Wiltshire and Elblag, it was decided to proceed with the twinning. It was then realised that Elblag was a large town of some 130,000 residents, so it was agreed that, unusually, and possibly uniquely, the West Wiltshire district should twin with Elblag.

On March 31, 2000, Andrei Kempinski, from Elblag, and representatives from the Five Towns, signed the Charter, and on June 23, 2000, a reciprocal signing took place in Elblag.

The town of Elblag is sited on the river Elblag, just south of where it enters Vistula Bay. The town lies on the route from Gdansk to Warsaw, 60km from Gdansk and 50km from the Russian border.

It was established in 1237 by the Teutonic Knights as an important sea port. In the 14th century it was part of the Hanseatic League trading around the Baltic and as far as England. It became Polish in 1466, but in 1772 became part of Prussia.

Elblag experienced a revival in the 19th century when the railway and the Ostroda - Elblag canal - were built and many industrial plants were established. The shipyard of Ferdinand Schichau was particularly important.

Near the end of the Second World War, 65 per cent of the town was destroyed as the Russians attacked the German garrison. In 1945 the town returned to Poland; the local German population left and were replaced by Poles from other areas.

Elblag is now looking to its heritage and its future. There is an ongoing programme of rebuilding the attractive burghers' houses in the Old Town.

Since the fall of Communism, Elblag is looking more and more to the West. It is seeking to regenerate trade with the Baltic ports but also looks forward to Polish membership of the EU and freer trading with Western Europe.

Elblag sees twinning as an important part of promoting the town.

The West Wiltshire/ Elblag Twinning Association is open to everyone who lives in West Wiltshire.
The association has been set up to:

* Promote and foster friendship and understanding through twinning and otherwise between the people of West Wiltshire and those of Elblag;

* Encourage and assist individuals, youth and adult groups, to make contacts and visits between the linked district and towns in order to further the partnership and broaden the mutual understanding of the cultural, recreational, educational and commercial activities of the linked towns.

If you would like more information, please contact: Angela Milroy (01225) 763809, or Zylvia Zukowska (01225) 754567.