Newbury Twin Town Association welcomed 27 German guests and 10 further guests from its other twin and associated towns for a long weekend between 18 and 22 July.
Newbury twinned with Braunfels in Germany in 1964, and has retained a close link with the town for the last 60 years. Newbury and Braunfels have both gone on to twin with Bagnols sur Cèze, Eeklo, Feltre and Carcaixent, forming a circle of towns across Europe.
During the weekend, the guests and their hosts enjoyed a number of activities including an outing to Oxford with an entertaining tour by members David, Marian and Ronan Hatfull, and a boat trip on the Thames, a buffet dinner and dancing at Stockcross village hall on Saturday night and a barbecue in the garden of the NTTA chairperson Gilllian Durrant on Sunday. Old friends reconnected and new friendships were made.
On Sunday morning the German guests attended a short ceremony at the Town Hall and Town Mayor, Councillor Andy Moore welcomed the guests and signed a certificate re-affirming the objectives of twinning between the towns. The Mayor of Braunfels wrote: “Nowadays friendship and continuity hold a higher value than ever before. We want to thank you for all these years during which the people of Newbury have offered us special hospitality. Since 1963 our friendship and relationship have grown stronger and stronger. Through all the difficult times in recent years we have stood together and it is our legacy to our children and grandchildren to continue this connection.”
If anyone is interested in finding out more about the NTTA please look at the website for information and contact details http://www.newburytwintown.co.uk/ the Association is always happy to welcome new members and will help facilitate travel and exchanges for any groups who are interested in travelling to the Twin Towns.