By AUBRIE GEORGE
Twenty years ago, a wayward tax bill sparked a friendship between towns on two different continents that is still going strong.
The Evesham Twinning Association, a non-profit organization that oversees an official relationship with Evesham, England, has been running since 1980.
In October, the group celebrated its 20th anniversary with a gala ceremony at Wiley Church and a visit from 23 members of its British counterpart.
The British visitors spent 14 days living with members of the twinning association from Marlton and other local communities, essentially becoming part of their families for a two-week period.
The group of visitors included the mayor and mayoress of Evesham, England, several town councillors and the official town crier.
The concept of twinning originated in Europe after World War II in the hope that individual friendships would lead to understanding and acceptance of the similarities and differences of people from different towns and countries.
Then, the hope was to avoid another conflict of the magnitude of World War II, ETA Presidents Lynne Royek said.
“The whole idea is to foster an understanding of different cultures,” Royek said. “To understand that internationally we have far more commonalities than we do differences.”
Royek said the two towns were unaware of each other until a tax bill addressed to Evesham in New Jersey found its away across the Atlantic.
“They were very tenacious in getting that tax bill back to us and, as a result, they became aware of us,” Royek said.
During last month’s visit, Royek hosted a couple that she and her husband stayed with when group members from New Jersey visited England.
“When you stay in someone’s home you get to understand what their challenges are,” Royek said.
Royek said things like discussing the differences between two different school and healthcare systems over morning coffee become the norm during the two-week visit.
She noted that every day things such as going to grocery stores, theaters and restaurants in another country could be eye-opening experiences.
“You just kind of totally get immersed in their culture.” Royek said. “It’s different than going on a vacation. You see every level of life from the roads they travel on to their form of government. You see everything, and it’s fascinating.”
There were several group trips planned for the British visitors, including trips to Washington, D.C., and Hershey and Lancaster, Pa., and host families tailored other trips to fit the interests of their guests.
The guests got to experience the Marlton Fall Festival, Ground Zero as well as Broadway shows in New York City, Cape May, and a behind-the-scenes tour of Citizens Bank Park, among other unique trips, Royek said.
“It just depends on what each couple is interested in,” she said. “It’s very varied what you can do with your guests.”
Formal charters creating a twinning arrangement with Evesham, England, were signed in October 1990.
The charters are on display in the township’s municipal building.
The ETA also has a formal friendship with Dreux, France, that was established in 2002.
Members of that community were not able to be present at the recent ceremony, however, because they were holding a twinning ceremony with a town in Italy, Royek said.
Royek said the experience of forming close bonds with people from other countries has been special.
“It’s a wonderful experience,” Royek said. “It’s great to have friends from around the world.”
