Forging US link

LEWES now holds the key to Lewes, Sussex, Delaware, USA thanks to the efforts of Chris and Steve Myatt.

The brothers, members of the Lewes Wanderers, recently cycled from New York to Lewes, Delaware, in order to raise charity sponsorship money and to further the twinning cause between the two towns with the same name.

They had lunch with the Mayor, George Smith, who presented them with the key to the US city.

And on the brothers' return, the UK Lewes Mayor, Cllr Barbara Riddihough, took possession of the key on behalf of the town.

It will be placed among Lewes' civic regalia.

'We are trying to get some twinning going between the two towns,' said Chris. 'There is a definite possibility of a cycling exchange.

'We also exchanged ideas on Natonal Parks. Lewes will soon be part of one and Lewes, Delaware, already is.

'The US Mayor also supported our local DOVE campaign against incinerating rubbish. Delaware takes recycling very seriously.'

The brothers raised 2,300 for the Jamie Lee Griffiths appeal fund. Jamie was born with meninigitis and has no lower limbs.

Meeting the US Mayor George Smith and his assistant Jim Ippolito, Chris and Steve presented them with a bottle of Harveys beer, a book on Lewes, a set of Lewes cufflinks from Fogden's and a letter from past Lewes Mayor, Cllr John Webber.