News

** Bristol-Hannover Council (BHC) has been shocked and saddened by images of the devastating wildfires threatening our fellow twin city, Bordeaux, and the surrounding Gironde region. Next year marks 80 years since the founding of both the Bristol-Bordeaux and Bristol-Hannover twinning links, and joint celebrations are already being planned. It is with this shared history in mind that we send our deepest sympathy to friends and colleagues in Bordeaux at this testing time. We hold in our thoughts all those who have been displaced, and we pray for the safety of the city and its people as the fires...

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** Bristol-Hannover was out in force at the newly re-named Bristol Dockyard, near the SS Great Britain, to support a Bristol Twin Cities takeover of the Dockyard stage. The event, which was open to the public, brought  a global soundtrack to Brunel Square, with artists representing five of Bristol's twin cities. It featured a mix of locally based musicians and included artists travelling from Hannover, Porto and Bordeaux, with an uplifting programme celebrating culture, connection and creative exchange. . Hannover's contribution was the talented singer Sarah with her accompanying guitarist...

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** BHC members gathered on a hot summer's evening at Stoke Lodge this week to watch the second in our season of German language films. The 2019 film ' The Collini Case' was based on the best-selling novel by the German writer and lawyer Ferdinand von Schirach. Von Schirach, who often draws on his own cases in criminal law, was highlighting the so-called Dreher amendment of 1969, under which many Germans were effectively exonerated from crimes committed during the war. The film was a tense courtroom drama leavened with flashes of humour. Powerful performances from a strong cast and a very...

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** Treasurer at Bristol-Hannover Council ---- There is a great opportunity to volunteer as the Treasurer for Bristol-Hannover Council, a small, volunteer-led charity based in Bristol, UK. This opening is for the Treasurer role on the committee of Bristol-Hannover Council, one of the most active and well-established city twinning associations in the UK.   This is an unpaid voluntary role and would suit someone who is able to contribute their time, skills, and financial experience to support the charity's valuable work connecting people and organisations in our two cities and supporting...

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** The German Embassy in London holds an annual Sommerfest in order to honour people who have been instrumental in promoting the German language, by their enthusiasm in teaching, at their workplace or in their region. A previous Sommerfest celebrated the launch of Axel Scheffler’s new book for primary school children “Wuschel auf der Erde”, a story about an alien who landed on earth, and did not know the (German) language, which the book introduced children to. Tony Woodcock and Ambassador Susanne Baumann Ann Kennard has attended a number of these events and this year was the turn...

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-- A good group of members came together for our now regular annual darts competition at the Post Office Tavern in Westbury-on Trym, and this time it was Lesley  Scarborough who scored a bullseye! Obviously benefitting from the unavoidable absence of previous bullseye scorer Ian, Lesley felt she had a point to make. Unfortunately the men won both contests, but the star role was definitely in the women’s team – and a great time was had by all. Bullseye! ANN KENNARD ######  

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** 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...

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** The Lord Mayor’s Civic Service takes place just before the incumbent leaves office, usually in April, and in the beautiful mediaeval Lord Mayor’s Chapel on College Green opposite Bristol Cathedral. Former Chair of BHC, Ann Kennard, was invited to attend with her husband Tony, and the service included the Lord Mayor Cllr Henry Michallat, the Lord Lieutenant Peaches Golding, the High Sheriff Anne Nisbet, and the Officiant was Rev. Dr Mandy Ford, Dean of Bristol. Dean Mandy Ford reading her address in the Lord Mayor’s Chapel It was an impressive ceremony, with readings from...

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** A team from BHC competed in the annual BITA quiz at the Black Swan on Monday, April 27. BHC achieved a respectable third place but failed once again to oust Bordeaux from the podium. Janet Carswell's encyclopedic knowledge of the geography of the Middle East certainly came in handy but sadly the team was let down by its lack of knowledge of horror movies! Thanks to Viv and Rob for organising it.                                         IAN TURNER ####  

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The Stradling Gallery on Park Row has a new exhibition showcasing the link between Bauhaus leading artist Marcel Breuer and BHC founding father Crofton Gane, as brought together by Ken Stradling in his unique collection. The Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr. Andrew Varney led the first of two groups of members, who were treated to a fulsome history of the collection related with great enthusiasm by curator Tanya Martin. The Deputy Lord Mayor with Bristol-Hannover Council members viewing Bauhaus artefacts Tanya explained how Marcel Breuer came to Bristol in the 1930s to escape Nazi Germany and became...

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