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Monthly meetings are held in the Mayor’s Parlour in the Guildhall in Bath
Next meetings:
Friday 5 Aug 2 pm
Friday 2 Sep 2 pm
Friday 7 Oct 2 pm
To join, contact:
Hilary Elms, Secretary BBTA
208, Old Frome Rd
BATH BA2 5RH
01225 837790
h.elms412@btinternet.com
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Quick Links
www.bath-braunschweigtwinningassociation.co.uk
www.mayorofbath.co.uk
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Book Exchange
Our first book from Braunschweig, “Altes Land” by Dörte Hansen has aroused a great deal of interest and was recently discussed in the German Society. The evening was open to non-German speakers who examined one of the themes of the novel – the plight of refugees from Eastern Germany in 1945 – in the light of personal experiences.
Last month, Bath library sent “Our Endless Numbered Days” by Claire Fuller to Braunschweig’s city library. In return we received “Das Mädchen mit dem Fingerhut” (Girl with a Thimble) by Michael Köhlmeier. Both books share the theme of children and their survival in a harsh world. Köhlmeier’s work is a modern fairy tale, with dark undertones. It is narrated in short, simple and often repetitive sentences which convey the difficulty of communicating when there is no common language. The three children at the centre of the story are therefore ultimately unknowable and their fate remains uncertain. This is an unusual novel which will leave the reader with some haunting images.
Judy Spencer
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Inter Twinning Association Petanque Tournament
Report on the Pétanque Competition between Bath’s Twinning Associations
The Mayor and Mayoress of Bath, Councillor Paul Crossley and Mrs Margaret Crossley, recently attended the third annual pétanque competition in Queen Square between the city’s four twinning associations. Each association fielded 2 teams of 3 players, and after some very closely fought games, the Bath – Aix-en-Provence Twinning Association emerged as victors. Competition organiser Don Grimes said: ‘Provence is the birth-place of the game of pétanque so it is perhaps fitting that the team representing Aix-en-Provence won this year. Many of the players here this evening had not played boules before, so it was good to see everyone, including the Mayor, joining in so enthusiastically.’
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BRIDGE BETWEEN TWIN CITIES
“The long anticipated visit of our bridge playing friends from Braunschweig finally became reality at the beginning of July. We enjoyed three tournaments together at Bridge and Games – Bath in Queen Square, and at Bath Bridge Club, culminating with an evening of team games in Queen Square, which was won by our German guests. As well as playing bridge, the guests attended an official reception with the Mayor, Councillor Paul Crossley, and visited the Roman Baths, the Museum of Costume and many other places of interest within Bath and in the surrounding countryside.
Guests and hosts agreed that the visit had been a very enjoyable experience and we are already planning a return visit, and hope that this exchange will lead to some lasting friendships between the citizens of our two towns.
Judy Spencer
The Winning Team
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Letter from Braunschweig
Dear friends in Bath,
We were very sorry to hear about the outcome of the EU-referendum leading to Brexit as it will have a great impact on politics, economy, sports and everyday life. Still, everybody is happy to read that the majority of people in Bath voted to stay in the EU. Our Lord Mayor also emphasized that the referendum will have no impact on the twinning.
There is one thing I would like to point out personally and for the DEG in general: We all share your worries and feelings; however the close links between our two cities and all the twinning activities will remain and will even be stronger than before. Politics may change but our friendship will remain. There is so much exchange going on between Braunschweig and Bath: Petanque, Bridge clubs, Book exchanges, Rowing clubs, Theatre groups, etc. We must keep this in mind and carry on!
And although you may be angry and sad at the moment you can be proud of your beautiful country and the adorable British people who are always polite, friendly and helpful.
People in Germany understand that no one really expected the protest voters to be in the majority and that the aim was just to teach the EU a lesson.
Best wishes
And remain optimistic for the future!
Katrin Landsmann (DEG)
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A special wedding car
The wedding of Sam and Katrin took place at the Assembly Rooms on Saturday 14 May and it is probably the very first time an East German Trabant has been used as an official wedding car in the UK. Katrin is from former East Germany and having seen ‘Hermann’ in Bath on several occasions decided that a Trabant would be wonderful for her wedding.
Husband-to-be Sam had also seen the Trabi in the City and traced Bryan
Chalker through the Museum of Bath At Work. Bryan explained to both Sam
and Katrin that ‘Hermann’ was a little on the ‘scruffy’ side but Katrin was adamant; she wanted to ride in it from Maybrick Road to the Assembly Rooms and so the epic ride was duly organised. Wedding guests (many from former East Germany) and tourists were captivated by the yellow Trabi – particularly as it still sports its original DDR plate at the rear and
many other totally original features.
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BBTA AGM
Our AGM was held on 1 July 2016 in the Mayor’s Parlour and was attended by 14 members, as well as the Mayor of Bath Councillor Paul Crossley.
Officers elected were:
Chairman: Bryan Chalker
Vice Chairman: Jeremy Key-Pugh
Treasurer: Tony Horstmann
Secretary: Hilary Elms
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William Herschel was born in 1738 in Hannover but moved to England at the age of 19. He lived in Bath between 1766 and 1782 at 19 New King Street, the site of today’s Herschel Museum of Astronomy. He was not only a gifted amateur astronomer, eventually becoming the first president of the Royal Astronomical Society, but also a composer of numerous musical works including 24 symphonies. He discovered infra red radiation and in 1781 made the first observation of Uranus.
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Stammtisch
If you would like to practise your German in a friendly informal atmosphere over ‘Kaffee und Kuchen’ come to the Stammtisch – every Wednesday throughout the year between midday and 1:00pm, in the upstairs room at Cafe Retro, 18 York Street, Bath (by Bog Island).
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Individual Exchange visits:
are you interested in visiting Braunschweig?
perhaps staying with a family in Braunschweig?
and maybe inviting them to stay with you in Bath?
Contact Barbara Heck at the DEG (see link)
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A new shop has just opened in Braunschweig
which sells typical English products – inluding
baked beans, mushy peas and Marmite!
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