By Brenda Kite.
Twenty two visitors from Bad Homburg, mostly old friends and some new to Exeter, arrived from Bristol Airport. The programme began on the following day with a very warm welcome by the Lord Mayor of Exeter, Cllr. Olwen Foggin, and a delicious buffet lunch at our wonderful Guildhall. Then on to the Cathedral for a roof top tour and magnificent views of Exeter, followed by a traditional cream tea in the Chapter House. The day finished with informal arrangements for dinner at several hosts’ houses.
The next day was taken up with showing our visitors the sights of Exeter. There have been quite a few changes since their last visit in 2012 and we were keen to show them how Exeter is thriving. Then it was home to prepare for the big celebration dinner at Reed Hall, University of Exeter.
Approximately 150 guests attended this dinner, including the Deputy Lieutenant of Devon (representative of the Queen in Devon) Mrs. Anna Robertson OBE, BA and Mr. Timothy Robertson, the Lord Mayor of Exeter Cllr. Olwen Foggin, the new Oberburgermeister (Lord Mayor) of Bad Homburg, Alexander Hetjes who had flown in just for this occasion, the Burgermeister (Deputy Mayor) of Bad Homburg, Karl Heinz Krug, 83 members of the Liederkranz Germania Choir, who have been exchanging with the Exeter Children’s Orchestra for 40 years and who were especially invited for this visit to mark the 50th Anniversary, and hosts and members, including several founder members, of the twinning groups of both cities. Speeches were made about the constant and ongoing friendship between our two cities and the broader issues of friendship in Europe. Toasts were made to the friendships between individuals and twinning groups alike. Individuals were thanked and gifts given and reciprocated. The evening ended with some fine singing from the visiting choir. Perfect!
The next day was taken up with a visit to Buckland Abbey – the home of Sir Frances Drake (and the recently verified Rembrandt self-portrait). On the way home, via the moors and the very scenic Clapper Bridge, a stop was made at the Warren House Inn for another delicious cream tea – and more wonderful Dartmoor scenery.
The next day was free to take our guests where we pleased, and in the evening we all attended a joint concert between the Exeter Children’s Orchestra and the visiting German Choir at the Corn Exchange. It was excellent! Bearing in mind that they had had only a day and a half to rehearse together, it could not have been better.
Monday the 14th September was the last day and we had an excursion to Coleton Fishacre, that wonderful Art Deco house with its fabulous gardens; the home of the D’Oyly Carte family who built the Savoy Theatre in London for the Gilbert and Sullivan light operas. In keeping with this aspect the Exeter Twinning Circle had arranged with the St. David’s Players to give two small “Gilbert and Sullivan” lunch time concerts in the house.
They were very much enjoyed, by both our group and the general public as well, and even included some audience participation in “a policeman’s lot is not a happy one”.
Our “grand finale” of the whole visit was a move on from Coleton Fishacre to the Berry Head Hotel in Brixham for a “fish and chip” supper for about 130 people. The visiting German choir had also joined us for this evening. Many more speeches and toasts were made. Many more thank you’s and gifts were given and the evening ended with a wonderful serenade from the choir. Then we departed in our coach, and the choir in the double-decker bus that they had travelled in all the way from Germany.
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The next morning, bright and early, we saw them off for their return journey to Bristol Airport and home to Germany, with lots of hugs and fond farewells and invitations and promises to see them all in Bad Homburg in two years’ time.
THE VERDICT: At the end of a busy programme, filled with significant events and a lot of fun, we of the Exeter Twinning Circle feel the visit was an outstanding success!
Brenda Kite