Activities & Projects

Some stories never tire in the re-telling. Thus it is with reality - recollections of how and why Bristol is twinned with Hannover. The tale has been retold, with perfect balance via poster displays, historic film, voice recordings and still pictures in the exhibition In Someone Else’s Shoes. The first phase of the exhibition ran from January 29 to February 2 in the Vestibules at City Hall, before being transferred to the Central Library on the opposite side of College Green. Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees addressed a reception on the formal opening of the exhibition on January 30, following...

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On January 25th, Richard White and Lorna Brunstein gave us a moving presentation, with film and sound, to show us the final result of their project of more than 3 years, retracing the route of a Nazi Death march, from Hannover to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in February 1945. The march was undertaken and survived by Lorna’s mother, Esther, and she ultimately came to England, where she became a human rights activist, but she sadly died just before the end of the project. The Death march was recreated first in Somerset in 2015, marking significant points along the way, but then in 2016 tracing...

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A project behind plans to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the twinning of Bristol and Hannover received a huge surprise when former EastEnders and Holby City star Don Gilet, revealed to the group that they are to receive a £6,800 National Lottery grant. Millions of viewers will witness the exciting moment which is being broadcast as part of the National Lottery Awards show on BBC One on Wednesday 27 September at 10.45pm. In Someone Else’s Shoes, Myers-Insole Local Learning CIC will use the funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to create a touring exhibition celebrating the links...

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18 of our friends from the Hannover-Bristol Association visited Bristol as part of our regular citizens’ exchanges, but this time it was a very special occasion: central to this visit was the great Zoo party to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the twinning, alongside the same anniversary of the link with Bordeaux – and both groups were accompanied by their respective Mayors Schostok and Juppé with their entourages.               Oberbürgermeister Schostok speaks at the Zoo, Mayors Rees and Juppé accompany.  The Hannoverians...

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Sporting exchanges have been an integral part of the relationship between Bristol and Hannover, and this anniversary year is no exception. All the events below are being supported financially by Bristol-Hannover Council. July 29th – Hannover Roller ‘Derby Dolls’ coming to Bristol! The return match (bout) (Bristol Roller Derby went to Hannover in 2014) between Hannover (http://dolls.rollerderby-hannover.de/)  and Bristol's B team (http://www.bristolrollerderby.com/) will now take place on Saturday 29th July at the Centre for Sport at the University of the West of England. This will...

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An exhibition of photographs documenting the history since 1947 of the city partnership between Bristol and Hannover is now on show at the Café at the CREATE Centre on Smeaton Road, BS1 6XN. It shows personalities and events from the very first visit by 5 Bristolians to Hannover, who went to help out when the message came to Bristol that in the terrible winter of 1947 the children of Hannover were unable to go to school because they did not have any shoes. Subsequent decades show great gatherings and events demonstrating the growing friendship between the two cities. The celebrations to date in this...

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Over 100 delegates from all over the UK and from counterpart cities in Germany packed into City Hall in Bristol to take part in the British German Association’s conference on twinning with Germany. Mayor Marvin Rees welcomed the delegates and spoke passionately about Bristol’s commitment to internationalism and in particular its links with Hannover. Mayor Herman from Hannover also spoke as part of a panel discussion on the evolving nature of twinning within the BREXIT context. Robert Nicholls chairman of the Hannover Bristol Gesellschaft also spoke and took part in workshops with other delegations....

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Following the Bristol team’s successful visit to Hannover, the return match or "bout" as it is called between Hannover’s roller derby team the Demolition Dolls (http:?//dolls.?rollerderby-hannover.?de/?) and Bristol's B team (http:?//www.?bristolrollerderby.?com/) will take place on Saturday 29th July at the Centre for Sport at the University of the West of England. This will be an afternoon event, the exact time is yet to be confirmed. More details in May but pencil it in your diaries!

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Dr Ann Kennard has been awarded the Lord Mayor’s International Medal for her many years work to strengthen the twinning with Hannover. Ann has been the chairperson of the Bristol Hannover Council (BHC) for over fifteen years and her dedicated and tireless efforts have played a vital role in developing the relationship. The ceremony took place at the Mansion House hosted by Lord Mayor Jeff Lovell and was part of a larger event where over 30 local people received Lord Mayor’s Medals for their outstanding contributions to their community and the city itself. Ann was accompanied by her husband...

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Christian Heppner, an archivist from the City of Hannover, gave us a fascinating insight into how the Hannover’s precious historical documents were preserved during the Second World War. Christian told us that proper cataloguing of Hannover’s history started with the first full-time archivist in 1889, when the archives were kept in the Kestner Museum. In 1940 when the first bombs fell near the museum, the archives were moved to Marienburg Castle, where they were kept for 2 years in a wine cellar and the kitchen, where they suffered from mould and mice! They were then moved to Soeder Castle,...

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