Tuesday June 2nd 2026
Dalleitj/Jarnac Twinning Group marking their 64th anniversary with Midlothian Provost Debbi McCall
Written by Midlothian View Reporter, Liam Eunson
Dalkeith Twinning Group are hosting a fundraising event to raise money to invite their French friends from Jarnac to Midlothian for next year’s Tour de France.
With the world’s largest annual sporting event making its way through Midlothian in July 2027, Dalkeith is set to welcome their twinned French town to experience the race as it makes its way through Midlothian.
The funds are planned to be raised through a ‘Petanque extravaganza’, organised by secretary of the twinning group and Dalkeith Petanque chairperson Sandy Howden, who explained the petanque matches as ‘an important start to our goal in raising funds’.
Hosted at Dalkeith Community Petanque Piste, behind the Midlothian Indoor Bowling club, the event is planned to take place on Saturday June 6 at 10:30am with the Gordon Duckett Memorial Trophy and medals up for grabs.
With 14 teams competing, it will be 3 x 30 minute games with the most points winning.
The 14 teams competing are:
Dalkeith Twinning Group
Dalkeith Arts group
Dalkeith Men’s Shed
Dalkeith Councillors
Dalkeith Rotary
Dalkeith Historic Society
Dalkeith Veterans
Dalkeith Petanque Club
Dalkeith Guerilla Gardeners
Esk Valley Rotary
Haddington Twinning 1+1
Midlothian Well Being
The Duckett Family
Raising funds through donations and a tombola, food will also be offered in the bowling club cafe.
Sandy Howden explained: “This is an important start to our goal in raising funds for the visit next year from our French friends in Jarnac and leading up in a few years to our 70th anniversary of Twinning between Dalkeith, Midlothian and Jarnac, Charente, SW France.”
The fundraising day coincides with the James Stagg memorial day, a day celebrating Dalkeith born military planner who played a crucial role in the Normandy landings
through his weather man background.
Due to this, the twinning group has named the Petanque posters after the beaches on D-Day, becoming a permanent feature at the club.
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