News

** BHC member Michael Bloom gave a fascinating talk on January 28 about his Jewish great uncle Horst Berkowitz. Dr Berkowitz lived in Hannover for most of his life. He was the youngest volunteer for the German army in the First World War and was heavily wounded in France. After the war he qualified as a lawyer and had a successful practice in Hannover until the Nazis seized power. Perhaps partly due to his service in the First World War, Horst's life was spared, although he was subject at one point to imprisonment in Buchenwald concentration camp. Some of his relatives emigrated to England,...

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** For those of you who do not like to travel too far during the winter months when the days are short, the Bristol-Hannover Council has just the thing?. During February, we are curating three on-line talks from leading academics on topics which I know will appeal to our members?.  The talks are hosted by our friends at the German Historical Institute in London and the Leo Baeck Institute. You can attend as many as you like. They are all free of charge, but in some cases require you to register in advance on-line. Don't worry, the process is very simple?.   If you have never been in a Zoom...

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** The Bristol-Hannover Council is kicking off the programme of activities in 2025 with a talk from one of our newest members: Michael Bloom. Michael was with us on last year's successful visit to Hannover when he revealed something of his family history in Hannover during the Third Reich. The story of his uncle Horst Berkowitz is amazing and we are delighted Michael has agreed to tell us more. Michael Bloom's Jewish great uncle, Dr. Horst Berkowitz, a prominent lawyer, lived in Hannover with his sister, Michael's grandmother. Michael visited the city many times from childhood onwards to stay...

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** It was great to see many members and friends at the Weihnachtsmarkt to celebrate Christmas. Next December we hope to secure more places for this ever popular event.  Our Christmas lunch was a great opportunity to look back and reminisce about our activities in 2024 - and what a year it has been! Do take a look at the latest newsletter compiled by Jonathan Radnedge and now available on the website to catch up on all the things we have been up to this year. Speaking of events, 2025 is already set to be a busy time for Bristol Hannover. After the latest extremely successful visit by the Bristol...

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** It was great to see many members and friends at the Weihnachtsmarkt to celebrate Christmas. Next year we hope to secure more places for this ever popular event.  Our Christmas lunch was a great opportunity to look back and reminisce about our activities in 2024 - and what a year it has been! Do take a look at the latest newsletter compiled by Jonathan Radnedge and now available on the website to catch up on all the things we have been up to this year. Speaking of events, 2025 is already set to be a busy time for Bristol Hannover. After this year's extremely successful visit by the Bristol...

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** This summer I had the pleasure of visiting the city of Hannover on the Bristol cathedral choir tour of 2024 as a chorister at Bristol cathedral. I’m sure all my fellow choristers would agree that Hannover was extremely welcoming and of course singing in the wonderful churches was as much of a pleasure for us as we hoped it was for our audiences. We covered a wide repertoire on our travels, including Vierne, Byrd and Holst. A particular moment I found special was our concert in Aegidienkirche - which was destroyed during the second world war -  as it felt so symbolic of the bridges built...

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** An intrepid band of 20 Bristol Hannover members braved the high winds on Sunday, December 8, to once again celebrate Christmas with a German flavour at Bristol's Jaegerbarn. Our honoured guests were The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Andrew Varney (above), and his consort Robbie Vogelaar. We were also delighted to be joined by Jona from Hannover, who has recently started as an intern in Bristol City Council, as well as new member Kerstin (Kiki) Eikenberry and her husband John. The festivities got under way with a glass of warming gluehwein and all enjoyed...

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** Alderman Michael Withers, former vice-president of Bristol-Hannover Council, passed away recently at the age of 93. Michael was born in Bath and went to school there, became a member of the Young Conservatives, was given the Freedom of the City of Bath, and later became a Conservative city councillor in Bristol. He always supported the arts in Bristol, became Chair of the Arts and Leisure Committee and was a member of Bristol Savages and Rotary. He was also always concerned to work to ensure good relations between Britain and Germany, becoming an early member of Bristol-Hannover Council,...

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** My connection with Hannover began in 1954 with the start of frequent visits to my grandmother, who lived there with her brother, my great uncle, Dr Horst Berkowitz. He was a Jewish lawyer who had survived the Nazi period and later became an important figure in the town after selling his coin collection, one of the largest ever amassed in Europe, to the city at a much-reduced price in 1975. For this he was awarded the Freedom of Hannover. I corresponded with Ann Kennard and she showed interest in this family connection and very kindly invited me to participate in the Bristol-Hannover Council...

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** November 11 is St Martin's Day in Germany. This day celebrates the Roman soldier turned saint who was such a good guy that he gave half his coat to a beggar during a snowstorm. The most iconic tradition in Germany is a lantern procession, for which children make their own paper lanterns in school. After the sun sets, young and old come together to walk through town and sing songs carrying their colourful lanterns. Once again this year the German Saturday school celebrated the occasion with a lantern parade in Redland Park and play in the church which children and parents enjoyed with mulled...

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