The day after the referendum, Marlborough celebrates another special relationship – with its New Zealand namesake

While much of England cheered the overnight results in the Scottish referendum, another special relationship was being celebrated in the heart of Marlborough this morning – the link with its namesake on the other side of the world.

Kiwi Jeff Sewell spent a day in the town, helping to cement the relationship between the English market town and the wine-growing region of New Zealand, which faces its own important poll this week, in the shape of a General Election.

Mr Sewell – a community representative on Marlborough District Council’s Sister City Committee – spent the morning with town councillors, and explored initiatives to keep the link alive, including the possibility of a reciprocal exchange of links on the mayoral chains.

He was well aware that Marlborough’s 103-year-old civic chain was stolen last year, and that a new 18-carat gold replacement chain had been crafted in Birmingham’s famous jewellery quarter.

“I read about it on Marlborough News Online,” he said. “Your site allows me to keep up with the news from the other side of the world. Your reach is truly international!”

Other initiatives – which will be discussed by the town council at a formal meeting – included referencing the link on town signage, and exchanging books about the localities at the respective libraries.

Mr Sewell also spent some time at St John’s School, where he discussed the link with Marlborough Girls’ College in New Zealand. Pupils meet via video link about four times a year, and recently staff and pupils from Marlborough NZ visited St John’s during a trip to Europe.

He admitted that the flow of traffic between the two communities was a little one-sided, although Marlborough New Zealand is much larger than its English counterpart (see panel below), and Kiwis generally have more reason to visit the mother country, often because they maintain family ties here.

“The students are so enthused by the concept,” he said. “We would love to see students, teachers and parents at the town hall in Blenheim, where they would be afforded a very warm welcome.”

Mr Sewell said he hoped to visit again before the link celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2017. In the meantime, “the link is alive and well and vibrant,” he said.