TROWBRIDGE’ twinners headed to Germany to celebrate 30 years of being paired with the town of Leer.
Following a visit from a number of German guests in July, members of the Trowbridge-Leer Twinning Association, along with town crier Trevor Heeks and a group of employees of Trowbridge Town Council, spent five days in October as guests of the German town.
All enjoyed the hospitality offered by the hosts, the highlight being the Gallimarkt, an annual occasion celebrated in Leer for over 500 years.Traditionally a cattle market, these days it includes a huge fairground and festivities in the town.
The group also enjoyed boat excursions, and a traditional Leer tea reception at their town hall, known as the Rathaus, as guests of the mayor, Beatrix Kuhl.
Mr Heeks has visited the town every year for 30 years and has got to know its inhabitants well. He said: “It is great fun to go and visit our twin town, and everyone makes us feel very at home. Twinning is all about learning about each other’s cultures, and what better way to do it than to experience it first hand.
“The whole idea behind it is getting everyone together and involving the whole community from both Trowbridge and Leer.
“My highlight of the trip was the Gallimarkt, I love it every year and it is such fun.We do do some work while we are there as well, we had meetings throughout the week, but it is always fun.”
In July, guests from Leer visited Trowbridge for the Civic Awards and the first leg of the 30th anniversary celebrations.
Dirk Schenzer, chairman of the German twinning association, praised the link between Leer and Trowbridge.
He said: “In the charter of the Leer Twinning Association it was agreed to maintain bonds between your and our members to encourage exchanges and friendship particularly between young people and to aim for peace in Europe. Now, 30 years after the signing of the historic Twinning Charter we are privileged to strengthen the links between us and demonstrate how much can be gained from twinning.”
To find out more about the Trowbridge Leer Twinning Association visit www.tlta.co.uk
The Leer twinning is one of four. Trowbridge also has links with towns in Morocco, France and Poland.
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