Bristol Hannover Council

—- We have waved goodbye to our friends from Hannover after another successful visit. A big thanks to all colleagues for making it happen, particularly Lynda Evans who organised it. Feedback from the Hannoverians was really positive and we are greatly looking forward to the return visit to Hannover in May 2026. Now we turn to the events coming up for BHC members in the coming months –

Sunday, September  7 – Film: ‘ Riefenstahl’, Documentary about the controversial German filmmaker, Curzon Cinema Clevedon, 7.30pm

Wednesday,  September  10 – BAGS talk ‘Summer on the Habsburg Trail!’  Speaker – Dr Mark Allinson. Mark will report back on the ways in which the Habsburgs’ subjects built new identities after the Austro-Hungarian empire collapsed, and how some of these places look now, more than a century on. Venue: St Peter’s Church Henleaze, Meeting Room. 7.45pm

Thursday, September 11 – BHC visit to the Anselm Kiefer/VanGogh exhibition in the Royal Academy London, 12.40. More details to follow.

Wednesday, October 1 – BHC will be hosting a meal for the multiplier group visiting Bristol from Hannover.Venue: Trinity Centre Bristol. Volunteers welcome. More details to follow.

Thursday, October 2 – Joint event with BAGS and Bristol University German Department, on the eve of German Unification Day. Evening. Venue: Bristol University (details to follow)

Saturday, October 11 – Excursion to Hauser and Wirth, Bruton, Somerset to view the Nana sculptures. Arrive around 12.30 (details to follow)

Wednesday, October 15 – Language change: ‘Is German under threat?’ Dr Anna Havinga, Senior Lecturer in Sociolinguistics, University of Bristol: German could become a language increasingly used only for social purposes, rather than for culture, economy and science. But is German really under threat? Anna will look at the use of anglicisms and the introduction of gender-inclusive language in German. She will explore their impact on language and society and critically evaluate reactions to both features.  Venue: St Peter’s Church Henleaze, Meeting Room. 7.15pm (time tbc)

Thursday, October 16 – BHC AGM, City Hall 6.30 pm. Come along and hear what we have been busy doing this year.

Wednesday, November 12 – The future of remembrance in united Germany: Illustrated Talk with refreshments. Speaker – Dr Debbie Pinfold; University of Bristol. When Germany reunited in 1990  East and West Germany had very distinct memory cultures of the National Socialism and World War II. The years following unification were  marked by efforts to create a unified culture of remembrance which would also support a sense of cohesive national identity. Yet as these events pass from lived memory and the past becomes contested again, Germany’s culture of remembrance is at a transitional moment. Venue: St Peter’s Church Henleaze, Meeting Room. 7.45pm

IAN TURNER, Chair

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