Le magazine d’informations de Marquette-lez-Lille
AUTOMNE 09
N°51
SPECIAL EDITION
Marquette – Sleaford :
Twinning 10th
anniversary
SPECIAL REPORT
Guided tour of Sleaford
And also : Focus on Sleaford
Twinning Committee
en avant !
N 51
o
Table of contents
Interview
.......................................................
p3
• Jean Delebarre, mayor of Marquette
“It is a nice life in Marquette”
Report
..............................................................
p4
• The twinning committee of Marquette, bringing
cultures and ideas
Special report
.............................
p 5-8
• Welcome to Marquette !
Entertainment
in Marquette
............................................
Environment
........................................
p9
p 10
• Sustained development : a collective commitment
en avant !
Marquette town magazine
MARQUETTE-LEZ-LILLE - N°51 - AUTUMN 2009
Editor : Jean DELEBARRE
Editorial staff : Julie BAIN - Elodie LAMBEC - Sheila WHEELDON
Sleaford Twinning Committee - Marquette Twinning Committee
Photo credit : Marquette-lez-Lille, Sleaford
Execution : Studio Confetti : 03 20 21 12 29 - Printing : L’Artésienne
Circulation 6000 copies - 09/09
Registration 03/06 n° 1298 - N° ISSN : 1269 - 6099 - All rights reserved
en avant!
11, place du Général-de-Gaulle - 59520 MARQUETTE-LEZ-LILLE
Tél. 03 20 14 51 00 - Fax : 03 20 55 21 06
E-mail : [email protected]
en avant ! INTERVIEW
“It is a nice life in Marquette”
Meeting with Jean Delebarre,
Mayor of Marquette-lez-Lille
On the occasion of the tenth twinning anniversary between the towns of Sleaford and Marquette,
meet with Jean Delebarre, Mayor of Marquette-lez-Lille. Always evolving, benefitting from a rich
historical past as well as a promising future, our twinned city is not far from being also our twin city...
en avant ! Councillor, you have
been leading the town with your
team since 1994. How has it
evolved in a 15 years’ time?
Marquette has a rich industrial past, which
was once the source of many jobs as well
as of great economic importance. But all
the factories have closed bit by bit, leaving
brown field sites that had to be taken care
of by transforming them into residential or
commercial areas… Our town, which is a
few kilometres from Lille, needs to
become attractive, accessible and open to
everybody. That is what we have been
working towards since 1994, myself and
all the different teams I have worked with.
A new sports complex will soon appear,
followed by a theatre, an industrial area…
The face of Marquette is changing; the
town is evolving to adapt itself to the
current needs of society, while maintaining
its warm family atmosphere.
ea What are the strengths of the
city of Marquette?
Located only a few kilometres from Lille,
Marquette benefits from a geographic
location which allows it to enjoy the
advantages of the city without having to
suffer from its inconveniences. With its
numerous parks and the two rivers which
cross it, it is a nice life in Marquette. A
wealth of associations, efficient council
services, and a convivial atmosphere in
the town’s neighbourhoods… allow each
and every Marquettois* to blossom.
The rich historic past of the town also
plays a part in Marquette’s good reputation. A Cistercian abbey, a Merovingian
cemetery, a Gallo Roman village… have
been discovered during archaeological
excavations in the town. Several pages of
history have been written in Marquette, in
particular by the Countess Jeanne de
Flandre.
ea What is the
main axis of work
for the council
team in the years
to come?
The main focus of
work
for
the
following
months
and years concerns
Sustainable
Development. The
Town has always taken part in Sustainable
Development actions, but even more so
today. The task, which has already been
started, will lead to a real action plan to
protect the planet, to fight against global
warming… This will involve real reflection
on municipal equipment, on the
management of the parks, on the means
of transportation used in the town… And
because Sustainable Development is
everybody’s concern, the Council will
educate the Marquettois* to think about
the environment so that they favour
renewable energies in their homes, and
will set up financial aids.
*Marquette inhabitants
No more seasons! (according to the french law, this is the political expression of the Parti Socialiste)
Dear Readers,
Writing this article was not an easy job for our group. Rest
assured that it was not due to any lack of inspiration. (The
Mayor and his team provided us with enough resources.)
No, it was largely due to the fact that it was the middle of
August (during our summer holidays) that we got the request
to provide an article for the Autumn edition to be released in
October. This was a tough deadline to meet.
Nevertheless, as this magazine is dedicated to the 10th anniversary of our twinning with Sleaford, we were pleased to
accept the challenge.
There was a rapid growth in town twinnings shortly after the
end of World War Two as a means of fostering reconciliation
between the populations of European countries. In Marquette,
however, twinning has been a far more recent experience.
It is important to thank all the volunteers on the Twinning
Committee who organise and sponsor twinning activities for
their involvement throughout the year. Their work is a major
factor in the development of cultural, sporting and school
links with our twinning partners.
We should also like to take the opportunity to pay tribute to
Michel Bailleux, a Socialist elected representative from 1989
to 2008, who passed away last May. He had a strong influence on community life and in particular on the Twinning
Committee.
Although the EU sometimes seems overly concerned with
employment and social legislation, it is also a wonderful source of support for revitalising our localities and our heritage.
For instance, in Marquette and in all the towns
along the Marque river, the Blue Links project, mainly financed by the EU, has enabled navigation again through dredging and the refurbishment of the river banks.
However, there is still an issue that has not been resolved. Has
all the work in Marquette been completed or is there a lack of
funding for the final part? It is an appropriate question to ask
when we know that the Riparius mosquito has unfortunately
not left our town after the dredging, as we were promised,
and continues to blight the lives of most of us.
Time flies! It is still summer as we write these words but autumn
will have brought you its falling leaves by the time you will read
them. Not only the leaves but also the tax forms for Local,
County and Regional taxes. Clearly, the Mayor and his team
should not run short of resources in the immediate future…
On behalf of the group
Cédric VANGOETHEN
To contact us: Marquette avec vous, pour vous
BP 70020
59873 MARQUETTE LEZ LILLE Cedex
Tél. : 06 11 66 59 66
ou Mail : [email protected]
en avant !
30
en avant ! REPORT
The twinning committee of Marquette,
bringing together cultures and ideas
As soon as it was elected in 1995, the new council team, led by Jean Delebarre,
set about opening the town to international life.
With the help of the “Association
Française
du
Conseil
des
Communes et Regions d’Europe”
(AFCCRE), contacts were made
with English and German towns.
These contacts led to exchanges
and visits in order to “create and
develop some bonds between the
towns of the three countries for
cultural, economic, or other
purposes».
Firm
links
were
forged with the English town of
Sleaford, as well as the German
town of Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf.
The twinning committee was created in 1999, with the
Today, the results of those first ten years of exchanges are
support of the people of Marquette and other interested
more than positive. More than 60 families from Marquette
parties. From then on, exchanges multiplied with the towns
regularly welcome their English and/or German guests.
of Sleaford and Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf. The first twinning
Schoolboys and schoolgirls from the three towns pay each
charter was signed with our English friends in September
other visits every year thanks to the financial support of the
1999. The following year, in October, the charter was
twinning committee as well as do the sports and cultural
signed with the Germans.
associations. English and German courses have been set
Early on, the objective of the successive presidents of the
Marquette’s twinning committee (Denis Malafosse, JeanPaul Varlet, Delphine Dequick, and now Jean-Claude
Brige) was to create relationships between the inhabitants
of the twin cities in order to cause to develop the actions
initiated by the council team.
up for several years. Spontaneous visits between the
members of the different twinning committees have been
taking place for several years already. Twinning events are
always convivial. Art exhibitions have even been
organized in our towns, with artists and paintings from all
3 towns taking part.
The development of these international relationships will
soon enable the cities of Sleaford and FredersdorfVogelsdorf to sign a twinning agreement this September.
Thus, the three towns will all be twinned with one
another. This is also what makes Marquette’s twinning
different.
The town of Marquette is currently developing political
exchanges with its twin towns in order to set up a common
action plan for sustainable Develop-ment and a Responsible
Economy. So, the task goes on.
4
en avant !
SPECIAL REPORT
Welcome to Marquette !
Only a few miles away
from Lille, Marquette has
a large cultural and historical
inheritance which attracts
many tourists.
Let’s discover this lively
town of 10 000 inhabitants
This way please…
Welcome to Marquette !
Two hours from London, Paris and Brussels by train, Sleaford’s
French twin town is easily accessible for English tourists by boat or
even by plane, being as close as it is to Lille. Enjoying a rich history,
Marquette is now a dynamic town, which has adapted to social
change whilst retaining it convivial spirit and its warm ambiance.
Read on to discover more about the town…
Marquette… a pen picture
A town of 10,027 inhabitants, Marquette is situated 5km from Lille. It belongs to the “Communauté
urbaine de Lille”, a group of towns clustered around Lille, the capital city of Flanders. Marquette
is spread over 486 hectares and is divided into 6 districts : Centre, Village-en-Flandres, Lommelet,
l’Abbaye, le Lazaro and le Haut-Touquet.
Marquette’s four nursery schools, four primary schools and one secondary school accommodate
1400 pupils every day.
The town is governed by a municipal council made up of 33 Marquettois, elected every six years
and currently led by Jean Delebarre, who has been Mayor since 1994.
A walk in Marquette
A town with a long history
The earliest evidence of people living in Marquette
dates back to the Stone Age. Various archaeological
excavations over a period of many years have
revealed evidence of human settlement from
Neolithic times to the early Middle Ages: a Cistercian
abbey, a Merovingian cemetery, a Gallo-Roman
village, a Bronze Age settlement …Every excavation
has brought to light a variety of secrets about our
local history. Marquette is a valuable historical
resource that is known today for its unearthed
treasures of the past.
Focus on… The Cistercian abbey, a rediscovered jewel
ince 2003, when the first archaeological excavations began,
we have discovered more and more secrets about the
Cistercian abbey, built in the XIIIth century by countess Jeanne
de Flandres. The extraordinarily well preserved remains of the
building (the abbey, and the working areas…) and the graves
have enabled us to learn a great deal about the town’s history
despite later industrial development. Some of the relics that
have been unearthed during the excavations can be seen in the
Notre-Dame de Lourdes church.
S
6
en avant !
Marquette, witness of the rise
and decline of industry
After the First World War, Marquette became industrialised. Big companies came to the town and
employed local workers, taking their lead from “Les
Grand Moulins de Paris. Most of those companies
have now gone, but some of the buildings still remain
to serve as reminders of the town’s industrial past.
Focus on… Les “Grands Moulins de Paris”
uilt in 1921, this former flour mill (where
wheat was ground into flour) was the first
branch of a large industrial company to be set
up in Northern France, and Marquette was its
chosen site. The huge neo-Flemish buildings
are a reminder of the area’s industrial prowess.
Since the factory closed in 1989, the town has
been fighting to preserve this large piece of
local history, which has gained listed historical
building status. There are plans for it to be
converted into residential accommodation in
the future.
B
Notre-Dame de Lourdes church
The Notre-Dame de Lourdes church is
now a cultural centre used for exhibitions, concerts and so on.
Located on the Rue de Lille, in the
Abbaye area, the church was renovated
by the town in 2003. The Diocese of Lille
actually sold the building to the town for
the symbolic price of one Euro. Built in
the 1930s, the construction of this
Roman Catholic place of worship was
linked with the economic and industrial
development
of the town. At the time, the Marquettois
got together to buy the stone from which
the church was built. Today, this consecrated building that still holds five church
services a year is also a cultural centre.
The relics found during archaeological
excavations of the Jeanne de Flandre
Cistercian abbey are exhibited in this
church. Artists and sculptors are also
invited to exhibit their own work in it. It is
also used as a venue for concerts,
especially during the jazz festival.
© Antoine Alacusos
The past on earth… and in the air !
Marquette, in partnership with
three other towns in the area, operates an aerodrome. Built in 1936
for the air defence of Northern
France, it became an aerodrome
for recreational aircraft at the end
of WWII. In 2006, the French
government signed over this 150hectare airfield to the Syndicat
Intercommunal pour la Gestionde
l’Aérodrome de Loisirs (a committee created to run the aerodrome),
made up of Marquette and three
other similar towns. This unique
place in the heart of the Lille area
is the home base of more than 10
companies and clubs involved in
leisure flying activities.
The SIGAL also puts on aviation
shows throughout the year such
as the “Festival de l’Air”: a big,
two-day air show that celebrates
all aspects of flying.
en avant !
7
The green town
As you walk around Marquette,
you come across numerous
open spaces and parks. Do not
miss the “Domaine du VertBois”, a 4.5-hectare park with
660 trees of various species. It
is a perfect place for people who
like to get out with the family to
make the most of the picnic
areas, mini-golf, children’s
playgrounds or a game of
French boules.
A walk along the banks of the
Deûle and the Marque is also an
ideal way to discover Marquette.
Sauntering along the two rivers
which flow through the
town, you can take in the landscape and…relax ! If you fancy a
different way of seeing the town,
Syndicat d’Initiative
23, rue des Martyrs de la Résistance
59520 Marquette
Open Monday from 5pm to 7pm, Wednesday from 10am to
12am and from 3pm to 5pm, Saturday from 10am to 12am
climb aboard the tourist tram
that runs alongside the Deûle
and sink into the atmosphere of
1920s France conjured up by
the vintage tramcars. Do not
forget to visit the tram shed
where you can find many preserved and restored tramcars.
Comité de Jumelage / Twinning Committee
Jean-Claude Brige – Tél. 06 07 53 63 63
Win a week-end in Marquette!
From september 25 until october 30, 2009
Answer the following five questions correctly and win a
place in the draw for a weekend in Marquette for two people courtesy of Sleaford & District Twinning Association.
What area does the town of Marquette cover?
157 hectares
366 hectares
486 hectares
Which park are the Marquettois particularly proud of?
The gardens of the Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes Church
The Domaine du Vert-Bois
The fishing pond
For how long is the town council elected?
3 years
6 years
15 years
What is the town’s local celebration?
Le Noël marquettois (Marquette’s Christmas)
National Day
La Fête des Chapons
Who was the Mayor of Marquette during the setting
up of the Sleaford-Marquette twinning?
Jean Delebarre
Jean-Claude Brige
Gordon Blythe
8
en avant !
Regulations extract
As part of the celebrations of the tenth anniversary of twinning between the towns
of Marquette-lez-Lille (France) and Sleaford (Great Britain), the town of Marquettelez-Lille is organising a quiz. Entries must be submitted between September 25 and
October 30, 2009. There is no entry fee and no cash alternative to the prize. This
competition is open to all residents with an NG34 7** or NG34 8** postcode. If the
winner is under 18 years of age he/she must be accompanied on the trip to France
by a responsible adult. Only one entry per household will be accepted. If multiple
entries from the same household are received they will all be declared null and void.
To participate, you need to answer correctly all five questions. All correct entries will
be entered into a draw. The prize is a weekend for two people to Marquette-lez-Lille,
Sleaford’s twin town. The weekend must be taken as part of an official Sleaford and
District Twinning Association visit to Marquette-lez-Lille in 2010. The prize includes
travel by coach and ferry/Eurotunnel to and from Marquette-lez-Lille, accommodation in the home of a Marquette family and a visit of the town.
The full regulations are available for perusal on the town’s website :
www.marquettelezlille.fr.
The regulations can also be sent by post upon request.
The entry form must be sent filled and signed to:
Quiz “Marquette-Sleaford: 10 years’ twinning”
Sleaford Town Council offices - Carre Street - Sleaford
Last Name ....................................
First Name ....................................
Town ............................................
Email ............................................
Address ............................................................................................
Zip Code ......................................
Phone Number ............................
I, the undersigned ..............................................................................
born on .......................... in ................................................................
certify having been informed of the regulations and accept its conditions
Done in ........................................ on ................................................
Signature :
en avant !
Entertainment
I N
M A R Q U E T T E
ch
r
Ma
n
Ju
“Vintage Guitar Market”
Organized by the association “Rendez-Vous”, this
event is made specifically for guitar enthusiasts.
The Vintage Guitar Market is an exchange
market and also a vintage guitars exhibition.
Professionals, collectors and enthusiasts meet
for one day in Marquette to exchange, sell,
buy… For the very first editions in 2008, this
event gathered more than 1500 musicians,
all searching for the real treasure…
n
Ju
e
e
“Fête des Chapons
& Deûle en Fête”
This big party is organised every first
weekend of june in Marquette. For two
days, the streets follow the rhythm
of activities, touristic cruises…
The Sunday night parade
and the capon throw are
known by all marquettois
who gather every year for
this event.
“ConventionDay”
Organized by the association “Les MarieLouise des Flandres”, Convention Day
brings together professionals,
enthusiasts, french, belgian,
english and german game
associations.
Wargames,
miniatures, history reconstruction, video games… For
one day, the visitors have
the opportunity to discover
every single kind of game.
r
be
o
t
Oc
“La Roue des As”
This famous cycling race is also the final
round of “the race behind Derny” Europe
challenge. Every year, the world’s most
talented racing cyclists struggle in
Marquette’s streets to become the new
champion. Organized by the ECWM, an
association from Marquette, in partnership with the town, this event brings
together thousands of people every year.
ly
u
J
National Day
For the occasion of the National Day,
Marquette offers a free concert at the
Domain du Vert Bois. Every year,
famous artists come to please the
audience. In 2009, nearly 6000
people enjoyed the show of
Emile et Images, a famous
French band in the 1980’s. The
night always ends with fireworks.
er
b
m
ce
e
D
“Le Noël marquettois”
An ice rink right in the middle of the
town center, a Christmas market…
In December, Marquette turns
into a Christmas village to please all the families. Sometimes,
even Santa Claus is part of it
and visits the kids before his
famous distribution on the
25th…
en avant !
9
en avant ! ENVIRONMENT
Sustained development :
a collective commitment
For many years, the town has been fighting for sustained development. An everyday
commitment shared by the all the town departments, public places and community services.
Actions in the town buildings
et up of a solar panel
at the Cousteau school :
this panel provides hot
water to the canteen thanks
to solar energy.
S
nvironment friendly toilets : The fishing lake
has been provided with brand new toilets.
Apart from being completely dry, they are lit
thanks to a solar panel and the water for the
washbasins comes from saved rainwater.
E
ainwater salvage : several
buildings and town facilities are provided with rainwater collection tank. Collections
from the council workshops
and the bowling rink allow us
to water the biggest trees in
the town.
R
onstruction of a sports
complex built to a high environmental standard in terms of
energy, water and technical
management of the building with
a water salvage tank, vegetable
roof, thermal sensors for hot
water…
C
Actions in nature
eestablishing of the biodiversity
balance, thus reducing the numbers of midges which plague
Marquette. In order to do this certain
species need to be reintroduced,
notably dragonflies, swallows…
R
Improve the atmosphere by providing
the town departments with natural gas
vehicles. Objective: limiting the fumes
produced by the cars during daily
journeys.
enign neglect : the management of some open spaces without the use of
chemicals or too much intervention in order to encourage the return of
wildlife and native flora.
B
nd also : Bank landscaping, reduction of the use of toxic products that
could harm the ground.
A
Acting with the Marquettois
et up of of household-waste recycling collections and
paper recycling in the town hall.
S
School canteens : the meals are made with healthy
foods, the waste is set aside to be transformed into gas.
Hard work on the Marquette website : forms uploaded,
news of the town on line to avoid printings…
10
en avant !
And soon : set up of financial incentives to encourage the Marquettois to have their own rainwater
butts and compost bins ; dog mess bins, new bike
sheds…