Ivry-le-Temple is a beautiful village in Northern France of around 650 inhabitants. With the common name and shared history of the Templars, it seemed appropriate that Temple village in Scotland would be a suitable twinning partner. In 2009 Kerr Macgregor established connection with the people of Ivry. Since Kerr’s death others have taken the project forward and now formalities are over and charters signed. There have been reciprocal visits to Scotland by people from Ivry-le-Temple and, in June 2011, to France by Andrew and Lorna Noble, Raymond Paterson, his daughter Sinead and Tam Bell, all from Temple.
To read an article about this visit, please click here.
To view details of the visit which appeared in the French press, please click here.
To read an article published in Ivry-le-Temple’s municipal bulletin detailing impressions of the visit to Scotland in 2009, view this PDF. A translated version can be viewed here.
The Ivry residents have shown great enthusiasm for this project and the next stage is to encourage further interaction and communication between the two communities. The representatives of both villages have indicated that the way ahead should be through community and personal activities with minimal support from local organisations or politicians.
Because of the difference in size between the two villages and because of the desirability of the two primary schools (Moorfoot and Ivry-le-Temple) becoming involved in the twinning, the Temple-based participants have suggested that it would be beneficial for people from the other communities within the wider Moorfoot area to become involved. Therefore they propose to set up a new association named Moorfoot Twinning. A new committee will be nominated, a constitution established and a bank account set up. Anyone from within the Moorfoot area who wishes to become involved will be very welcome. There will be a coffee morning in Temple Village Hall on the 5th of November in aid of the Temple Nursery. A display and information will be available there for anyone interested to come along and find out more. Alternatively, contact Tam Bell on 01875 830752. A formal meeting will be organised soon after this.