Blog Archives

BHC executive members gathered on Bordeaux Quayside to launch the prize winning logo for the 70 anniversary year in 2017. UWE design student Minjeong Shin (pictured). The logo will be used for both Hannover and Bordeaux events as well as the joint events planned such as the January launch at MShed, the Zoo party in July and the Business Summit in September. Watch this space for more details. Minjeong was given a prize of £100 from the BHC and she is keen to develop her design work.            

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The official launch of the BCCG in Bristol and the South West took place on April 18th at the offices of the law firm DAC Beachcroft, and was attended by distinguished members of the South West business community, including HM Lord-Lieutenant Mrs Mary Prior, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Alastair Watson, James Durie (Chief Executive at Bristol Chamber & Initiative at Business West), Tim Illston (Honorary Consul for Germany), BHC Chair Ann Kennard and members of Bristol-Hannover Council committee.  The Bristol BCCG is intended to be first port of call for companies and professionals...

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Teacher Sharon Barnes and Students from the German department at Fairfield Secondary School arranged an informal evening to talk about their trip to Hannover. Students said that after the trip “they could see the relevance of learning German and were much more motivated”. Linking up with counterparts from the IGS Roderbruch secondary in Hannover, the students spent several days exploring Hannover and undertaking some fun based language tasks. One of the highlights for the boys was seeing Hannover 96 footballers training and visiting the stadium for a match. Members of the BHC executive attended...

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About 20 members and friends met up for lunch on Sunday April 17th at this new and lively café, run by two brothers from Bavaria.  The menu is short but very German, and the upstairs room was comfortable, with its quirky tables consisting of doors – ok if you don’t have a handle in front of you!  The top floor is to be converted into a bakery, we hear.  Pflaumenkuchen was a popular dessert!                

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A group of members attended a moving presentation – a work in progress - by Richard White and Lorna Brunstein at Bath Spa university, of a memorial walk from Hannover to the former site of the concentration camp at Bergen-Belsen, in honour of Lorna’s mother Esther, who survived a forced march along the route in February 1945.  The memorial walk took place in February 2016, and Richard and Lorna were pleased to make local contacts who helped them to find remaining locations.  Bristol-Hannover Council supported the project via contacts and some financial support, and we look forward to attending...

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Our excellent experience in 2015 led us to book our informal annual dinner again at the Townhouse bar and restaurant on 17th March.  We were again able to use the very pleasant upper room and were treated to a very reasonably priced and delicious dinner, with all dietary issues catered for.  We were pleased to welcome guests whom we had not seen for a while, including the former Lord Mayor Peter Abrahams, who led the organisation of the 60th anniversary celebrations in 2007.                

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BHC Chairperson Dr Ann Kennard and BHC executive member and Honorary German Consul Tim Illston both attended the planning meeting for a proposed Bristol branch of the British Chamber of Commerce in Germany (BCCG). The BHC has supported the planned Spring 2016 event from its inception and further details will be available on www.bristol.bccg.de

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It is with great sadness that Bristol Hannover Council must announce that Derek Brockwell, former Treasurer of BHC has died at the age of 85. Derek joined the RAF at 18, served in England, Germany and Cyprus and rose to the rank of sergeant. Derek loved Germany, met Alma his German wife and came to Bristol, where they were married in 1959. They bought Beese’s Tea Gardens in 1964, but due to its previous neglect, they only opened it again to the public in 1978: Alma ran the tea gardens and Derek operated the ferry. Derek loved boats and the history of the Avon valley and its wild life. The last...

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Lord Mayor and President of the Bristol Hannover Council Clare Campion-Smith welcomed over 25 BHC members and friends to a delicious lunch in the Hannover café at the German Xmas Market in Bristol at the weekend. The Gluehwein flowed and the Wurst was covered in Senf as anecdotes from this year’s amazing programme were exchanged. Possibly the busiest and most exciting year to date for the BHC has come to an end and spirits were high for 2016. BHC chairperson Ann Kennard mentioned some of the cultural and educational highlights and also referred to the increase in visitors from Hannover due to the European...

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Frau Margitta Schuermann, the wife of Hannover Mayor Thomas Hermann, recently donated a set of books about Hannover to the Twin Cities section of the Central Library, which is upstairs in the reference section. Frau Schuermann had originally brought the books with her to offer as gifts during the more formal aspects of the City Leaders Summit at Engine Shed. However, following a visit to see the Hannover Love Tree at the Central Library with Ann Kennard and Alix Hughes, Frau Schuermann decided the books would be better placed there for all the citizens of Bristol to enjoy. We are very grateful...

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