Kettering - Sister City Association

The Borough of Kettering has had informal links with Kettering Ohio in the United States since at least 1968. At that time letters passed between the peoples of the two communities and private visits were made. In 1976 a formal message of congratulation was sent by the Mayor of Kettering, England to the Mayor of Kettering Ohio to mark the bi-centenary of the American Nation.

In August 1977 Kettering (Northants) Borough Council resolved to
continue and extend the links, and a formal Sister City Link was
established in 1979. From this the Kettering Sister City Association was formed, with the aims of arranging visits and providing contacts for members and organisations in the Borough.

An Executive Committee administers the affairs of the Association, in accordance with the Association constitution, and puts together a programme of social and other events, some with an American theme.

This helps maintain the friendships that have developed between
members. We always look forward to new members joining our ranks.

Membership as open to anyone involved or interested in furthering links with our Sister City in Ohio, whether or not they live within the Borough of Kettering. Members are invited to provide accommodation and/or hospitality for our American friends, who similarly host us on visits to Kettering Ohio on private or group visits.

The two sides of the Association normally aim to arrange a group visit to each other alternately every two or three years, so that we usually visit our Ohio Sister City every fourth or fifth year. A party from Ohio visited us in 1990, 1995, and 1999 are now preparing to visit us in 2007. In 1998, 1992, 1997 and 2005 our Association arranged official group visits to Kettering, Ohio as part of a longer stay in America also visiting other parts of that vast country. Our members can also join our Ohio friends at their annual December visit to New York City.

Last updated 31/12/2008