Bristol Hannover Council

** What a visit! The Bristol–Hannover delegation arrived in Hannover for a packed four-day programme that mixed culture, history, nature and friendship in equal measure. From jazz on the steps of the New Town Hall to fireworks over Herrenhausen, this year’s exchange delivered memories that will last long after our return to Bristol.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our wonderful friends and colleagues in the Hannover Bristol Gesellschaft, whose tireless behind-the-scenes work made the whole programme run smoothly. Coordinating guided tours, restaurant reservations, board meetings and civic receptions across four days is no small feat, and the care and warmth that went into every arrangement were greatly appreciated.

The weather, it must be said, had its own ideas. May in Lower Saxony offered a full range of possibilities — bright sunshine one moment, blustery showers the next, and at least one occasion when the group was left wondering whether to pack sunscreen or an umbrella (the
answer, as ever, was both). But a little unpredictability in the forecast only added to the adventure, and spirits remained high throughout!

Thursday, May 14 — Jazz, sunshine and a sizzling welcome

The programme opened in the best possible style on Ascension Day. We gathered at the entrance to the magnificent New Town Hall to enjoy Enercity Swinging Hannover, the city’s popular annual jazz festival. The sound of live music drifting across the square set an instantly festive mood, and the numerous food and drink stalls ensured that no one went hungry or thirsty as the morning unfolded.

The New Town Hall made a magnificent backdrop, and even the weather played ball for most of the morning, though a few opportunistic clouds kept things interesting. It was a joyful, relaxed start that gave old friends a chance to catch up and new acquaintances a chance to find their feet.

The evening brought a warm and convivial barbecue at the beautiful home of Petra Pilger – now a traditional fixture in our visits. Despite the threat of rain, the barbecue was a great success. The generous hospitality and excellent company rounded off the first day in the most satisfying way imaginable — a proper Hannover welcome!

Friday, May 15 — Wolfsburg bound

Friday saw the group board a train for Wolfsburg, home of the famous VW car company and site of the largest car factory in the world. We were there to visit Autowelt, the VW Group’s impressive showcase for its different brands and its attempt to show its illustrious past as well as the future direction of the industry.

Saturday, May 16 — Gardens, governance and fireworks

Saturday was perhaps the most varied day of the entire visit — a genuine Best of Lower Saxony showcase that moved from horticulture to dazzling pyrotechnics.

The State Garden Show, Bad Nenndorf

The group assembled promptly under the tail outside Hannover station for the train to BadgNenndorf and the State Garden Show (Landesgartenschau). We spent a full and rewarding day exploring the show’s beautiful grounds, with lovely gardens, lakes and sculptures.

Fireworks competition, Herrenhausen

The evening ended on a spectacular note. At 8:00 p.m., the group gathered at the Schlosskueche restaurant for a wonderful evening reception organised by Mayor Thomas Hermann, before heading to the fireworks competition which we viewed from the balcony of the magnificent Herrenhausen Gardens. Against the backdrop of one of Europe’s finest baroque gardens, the pyrotechnic display was nothing short of breathtaking — a fitting grand finale to an action-packed day.

Sunday, May 17 — Reflection, remembrance and farewell

Sunday brought the visit to a close in a manner that was both moving and celebratory — a day that combined civic ceremony with quiet reflection and the warm conviviality of a farewell dinner.

Reception with the Mayor

At 10:00 a.m., the delegation was received in the council chamber of the New Town Hall for a formal reception with Mayor of Hannover, Thomas Hermann. These civic occasions are a chance to reaffirm the official bonds between Bristol and Hannover and to celebrate the
people-to-people connections that give those bonds their real substance. The warmth of the welcome was, as always, deeply appreciated, as was the tour of the Rathaus, with many of us able to view rooms that were previously unseen.

The Ahlem Memorial

From the town hall, the group made their way by tram to the Ahlem Memorial near Linden, where an English-language guided tour of the memorial awaited. The Ahlem Memorial is a place of profound historical significance. In the 1920s and 30s it was a Jewish horticultural
school and in the Third Reich it became a place of deportation for Hannover’s Jews. The tour of the house and garden including the well-presented exhibition was a thought- provoking and sobering experience. Moments like this remind us why international friendship and understanding matter, and why visits like this one are about so much more than tourism.

Farewell Dinner at the Werkhof

The visit concluded in style with the farewell dinner at the Werkhof restaurant in the Nordstadt. Laughter, stories and a few heartfelt speeches filled the room as the group looked back on some extraordinary few days together.

Until next time

Four days: a jazz festival, an insight into the future of transport, a garden show, a fireworks display, a visit to a memorial site, a mayoral reception and moments of shared laughter and enjoyment — the May 2026 visit to Hannover was a resounding success. The programme
showcased the very best of Lower Saxony, and the care and support of our friends in the Hannover Bristol Gesellschaft especially Robert, Christine and Petra ensured that everything ran smoothly.

Even the weather, in its own unpredictable way, was part of the story. The Bristol–Hannover friendship has weathered far more than a few spring showers, and it is stronger for every shared adventure. We return home grateful, enriched and already looking forward to what comes next.

IAN TURNER, Chair

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