Ringmer Twinning Association
Twinned with Belgentier in France and Geschwenda in Germany
Twinning Visit from Geschwenda, Germany
| On Wednesday, 19th October, members of the Ringmer Twinning Association gave a resounding welcome to 41 visitors from our twin village of Geschwenda in the hall of St Mary’s Church at the start of their 5-day visit to Ringmer. The event was greatly enhanced by the church bell-ringers, who were practising at the time. After their 15-hour coach journey, our visitors enjoyed a buffet, laid on by their Ringmer hosts, and were advised of their accommodation. Twenty-one visitors, including 12 young people (aged 10-15), were staying with host families. Ringmer Parish Council Chairman, John Kay, mingled with them and greetings were exchanged by Ringmer Twinning Association Chair, Sharon Gunde, and Berg Heyer, President of the Friendship Circle of Geschwenda. Many thanks to Peter Butler, who made a ‘twinning’ cake to celebrate the occasion. | |
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| The following day, the visitors all went to London and had a wonderful day sightseeing | |
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| On the 21st October, they toured Beachy Head and Eastbourne by coach. Both trips were escorted by Jim Stock, Susan Noone and Barbara Longhurst. In the evening, everyone enjoyed an evening of dancing, led by Chester, at the Ringmer Football and Social Club. | |
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| On Saturday morning, 10 interested guests enjoyed a talk and demonstration of the church bells and ringing the changes, given by Jonathan Franklin and Ken Jones and were allowed to join in on a muffled bell. Later that morning, the younger visitors played a game of football with a team of Ringmer Rovers at the Ringmer Community College - many thanks to all concerned and for the sunshine. | |
| That afternoon their coach driver took the group to Brighton. Saturday ended with a gathering at the Halland Forge Hotel (where the remainder of the visitors were staying) and an impromptu musical finale, accompanied by Norbert on his accordion. This was a fitting finish to a happy and successful visit. At 7.30 a.m. on Sunday, 23 October, we waved goodbye to our visitors at the end of their 5-day visit to Ringmer. Many thanks to everyone who helped and supported us. | |
| Next year (2012), Ringmer will host a music festival with Geschwenda and Belgentier (Southern France) from 16th to 20th May, which will coincide with the Village Fete organised by the Committee of the Village Hall Extension Appeal. Over this period, the Chairman of Ringmer Parish Council is due to sign the twinning agreement with Belgentier, which should complete the triple twinning partnership and should attract funding from the EU for such events. | |
Visit to Geschwenda 3 – 9 August, 2011
| From 3rd - 9th August Ten members and friends of Ringmer Twinning Association visited our partner village of Geschwenda, Germany, to do some sightseeing and participate in the Wanderwoche hosted by the Tourist Bureau. | |
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Trips were arranged for us to visit the towns of Erfurt and Eisenach. Erfurt, with its cathedral, St Severi church has the Krämerbrücke, the oldest preserved medieval bridge in Europe with houses and shops on it. Manfred was an excellent guide and it was a good day. On Saturday, we visited Eisenach, the birth place of Johann Sebastian Bach. We also visited the castle (the Wartburg), where Martin Luther was protected from persecution, whilst translating the bible into German. Stephen was our guide for the day and conducted the tour in excellent English. Saturday saw us in Ilmenau for shopping and sight seeing in this busy but quiet town with its association with Goethe. On Sunday and Monday, we walked in the Thüringer Forest, along with ramblers from all parts of Europe, who were also taking part in the Wanderwoche. The weather was not so good and drizzle was the cooling influence on the walk. |
| On Monday a ceremony was held to celebrate the official raising of the Ringmer Twinning sign on the outskirts of the Geschwenda. | |
Visit of Ringmer Parish Councillors and members of Ringmer Twinning Association to Belgentier to sign the letter of intention to form a twinning partnership
2nd – 6th June 2011
| Seven members of Ringmer Twinning Association, including three parish councillors (Cllr Alan Grindley, Cllr Mrs Jenny Hill, Cllr Mrs Sharon Gunde), travelled to France during the period 2 – 6 June, 2011, for the purpose of attending – and to some extent participating in – the twinning partnership’s Fête de Musique, hosted by the Comité de Jumelage de Belgentier, and of signing the ‘Lettre d’Intention’, in which we set out our aim to develop the friendship between our two communities and to sign our official twinning agreement by the end of May 2012. Cllr Mrs Jenny Hill signed the letter on behalf of Ringmer Parish Council, Cllr Mrs Sharon Gunde on behalf of Ringmer Twinning Association. It was signed on behalf of Belgentier by M. Bruno Aycard, Maire, and Mme Marie-Claude Fauvre, Présidente de l’Association de Jumelage. | |
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The main focus of the weekend was the Fête de Musique. Two choirs from the surrounding area joined the wonderful choir of Belgentier – Chorale de La Clé de Soleil – to perform a selection of music. The Wölfis Youth Brass Band from the area around Geschwenda was absolutely superb. Forty-five young people played their instruments on both days and led the processions dressed in their traditional costumes. They very bravely stayed on the nearby campsite. Members of Ringmer Twinning Association contributed a short musical interlude of flute and folk music and encouraged audience participation. |
| The visit was a great success. It was a nice opportunity, too, for those of us who are becoming seasoned ‘twinners’ to catch up with the friends we have already made. | |
An Historic Occasion for Ringmer
| On Saturday, 13 November Ringmer celebrated the formalising of its first twinning partnership. The European link has been made with Geschwenda, a village on the edge of the Thuringer Wald in Germany (www.geschwenda.de). | |
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Ringmer Twinning Association was pleased to welcome 7 members from the community of Geschwenda to the celebration and was delighted to have the support of Mr Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, who delivered a speech in German. |
| The official twinning agreement was signed by Dr John Kay, Chairman of the Ringmer Parish Council, Herr Ralf Groteloh, Mayor of Geschwenda, Mrs Sharon Gunde, Chair of the Ringmer Twinning Association and Herr Berg Heyer, Deputy Mayor and President of the International Friendship Circle of Geschwenda. |
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Mrs Sharon Gunde thanked members of Ringmer Twinning Association for their support and the past and present Committee members, who have worked so hard towards realising this goal. A toast was raised to the future friendship between the two communities. A delicious buffet (locally sourced and prepared by David and Eleanor of SAY CHEESE), music and dancing followed the official ceremony.
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