Did you know Macclesfield has a German sibling?

For 72 years, Macclesfield has been affiliated with a costal town in Germany. However, if you ask many Maxonian's about our European twin - most have never even heard of the town.

Eckernförde, situated close to the Danish border on the Baltic Sea, is part of the German state of Schleswig-Holstein.

The town was first named back in 1197, just 14 years after the first mention of 'Makeslesfeld' in 1183.

But the similarities do not end there.

Both towns are considered affluent, with Eckernförde's seaside location making it popular with tourists.

The towns also have a common history with the Silk industry. Both also have non-league football clubs who have never made the top flight.

While Macclesfield has about 30,000 more residents than Eckernförde, the two both were founded around bodies of water, with Macc of course being the River Bollin.

Macclesfield Borough Council first formed strong links with Eckernförde in Germany in 1949.

The link with Eckernförde arose because initially the people of Macclesfield sent aid to that town, following information sent back by soldiers who were stationed there during the Second World War.

However, unlike many twinned towns in the UK and Cheshire, there was never a formally signed twinning agreement.

The link just developed naturally between the two towns, from a genuine act of post-War human compassion.

Eckernförde was economically hit hard because of a high number of refugees - particularly from Estonia - and mass unemployment.

A translated document by the German town said: "At first it seemed as if the English only wanted to provide a little help. But by 1953, the Eckernförder wish for a partnership flourished."

"Regular city-partnership encounters, especially of young people, took place until the late 1980s where there were only a few mutual visits left."

Since the abolishment of Macclesfield Borough Council, to be replaced by Cheshire East in 2009, there has been little relationship between the two towns.

"It was found that there are hardly any common interests at the political and administrative level, particularly due to the different sizes of the municipalities," added Eckernförde, who unlike Macc, have had the same mayor and local authority since 2007.

However, it is not all bad news. Our German neighbours still remain an affinity for the town, and non-governmental relationships formed have kept in touch.

"Over the years there have been limited 'Civic' exchanges, with most of the twinning events occurring locally between different community groups in the two towns," said the Cheshire East Council.

"The last Civic visit made was by the Mayor in 2002 to celebrate Eckernförde's 700th anniversary."

Macclesfield Male Voice Choir have visited Eckernförde since October 2010, but nothing official from the Mayor or government's of our town's.

The German's considered severing the twin ties in 2011, but instead nothing has happened since.

Eckernförde Way was once considered as a name for The Silk Road - but it was not chosen - and no streets in Macc are named after our German relatives.

With five new streets being created, and potentially named after Olympians next month, perhaps it is time to also consider naming something in Macc after Eckernförde to rekindle our relationship with our German neighbours.