Bristol Hannover Council

** Ann Kennard, former BHC Chair, was recently invited to attend a panel discussion at the German Embassy in London, to celebrate 75 years since the consulate was elevated to a diplomatic mission, as we know it today.

The three speakers were a NATO military strategist, a German author and former UK correspondent for German broadcaster ARD, and a UK Member of Parliament; the discussion was chaired by Channel 4’s Europe Editor, Matt Frei, himself born in Germany – “I love my German passport” was his opening gambit.

Discussion: Matt Frei to the left at the window

The discussion looked back at the dark post-war period, the thawing of UK-German relations, ‘Cool Britannia’ and the role of UK-German relations now, post-Brexit and in the fractured world politics of the moment.

After the discussion, the audience were invited to a reception, which took place alongside an exhibition of photographs showing many aspects of German-British relations.

Ethne and Margret in Hannover, 2026 / Jean Ashford’s memoir

This included photographs of royalty and political leaders, but also many photographs of citizens of both countries involved in the twinning partnerships and their friendships, some going back many decades – there were lovely photographs, then and now, of our own Ethne Dando and her dear friend Margret Egle, with whom she has been friends for over 70 years.

Also present was a photo and memoir of member Jean Ashford who first visited West Berlin as a student in 1976 and again in 2026, 50 years since the first visit.

ANN KENNARD

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