News

Bristol Hannover Council members took to Clifton village for this year’s Annual Dinner as they enjoyed a delicious meal at “the Albion” pub. Committee, members, friends and families gathered in the pub’s private function room for an evening of jollity, good food and reminiscences. Discussion also focussed on the future as BHC Chair Dr Ann Kennard reminded those attending that the visit of our Hannoverian friends is not far away and there are still places available for certain activities. The evening concluded with a vote of thanks from Vice-Chair and Former Lady Mayoress Councillor Brenda...

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BHC Chair, Ann Kennard, attended the Lord Mayor’s Annual Civic Service on March 17th in the Lord Mayor’s Chapel on College Green.  This is a service of celebration of the people of Bristol, to which the Lord Mayor invites those individuals he has met during his year of office who, he feels, have made a contribution to the life of the city.  BHC is very honoured to have been invited, showing the Lord Mayor’s appreciation of the contribution of the twinnings to Bristol’s civic life.

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It is with sadness that we inform members of the death of Guy Driffield at the age of 88. Guy was a long-time Treasurer of Bristol-Hannover Council, and always supported our activities. He was born in Cologne on 25th April 1924 and after schooling in Germany, the family fled to England at the outbreak of the Second World War. Guy studied German and French at Oxford and subsequently became a language teacher. He taught at Colston's Boys School, and later became Head of Languages at St. Thomas More's. Ann Kennard and Alix Hughes attended his funeral on 13th March at Clifton Cathedral, at which his widow...

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Mayor George Ferguson signed the European Charter on Women’s Rights on Friday March 8th, International Women’s Day, in the presence of representatives of many groups in the city, including Ann Kennard of Bristol-Hannover Council.  Bristol was the first UK city to do this, and we understand that Hannover and Oporto have already done so.  Mayor Ferguson pledged to set up a Women’s Commission for Bristol to develop the key issues for women locally, in particular those of poverty, violence and discrimination.  He said he would rely on the Commission to help him to deliver on these promises. ...

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As a result of a regional twinning event in November 2012 held at the CityMuseum to explore European funding possibilities for Twinning and European Integration, facilitated by the Media Diversity Institute and Alix Hughes of the Bristol International Twinnings Association, Bristol-Hannover Chair, Ann Kennard, attended the AGM of the South Glos Twinning Forum on Thursday 7th March 2013.  Twinning representatives from Filton, Patchway, Yate and Sodbury and District were present, and a useful discussion took place concerning the different activities of the twinnings, and in particular possibilities...

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Congratulations to the Bristol Hannover team, who reclaimed the Paul Garland Trophy by winning the Bristol International Twinnings Association Annual Quiz, held at the Black Swan pub, Westbury-on-Trym. In a closely fought contest, Bristol Hannover held off very strong challenges with Bristol China Partnership pushing them all the way and with Bristol Bordeaux coming in a very close third. Particular credit, however, must go to Bristol Beira, who participated with only two members (three if you count the pub’s dog, which set up camp at their table!) Many thanks to Bristol Tbilisi for organising...

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Bristol Hannover Council Member Almut “Allie” Dunnington and her husband Phil, who run the "Gone With the Wind" hot air balloon tour company and consultancy recently had their work made into a film. In collaboration with Allie and Phil, German channel ZDF and Franco-German channel ARTE, Marco Polo Film AG produced a five-part documentary series on the world's greatest balloon adventures. So it was that on 28th February 2013 that Allie and Phil gave a very interesting presentation at City Hall to members of Bristol Tbilisi Association and Bristol Hannover Council. Their presentation began...

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In February 2013, Airline bmi regional announced the launch of three new European routes from Bristol Airport with flights from Bristol to Munich, Milan and Hannover. Bristol Hannover Council greatly welcomes the new direct flight connection to Hannover. Please see below for a statement from BHC written by our longest serving member Dr John Veale. “Bristol-Hannover Council rejoices in the prospect of an air-link between Bristol and Hannover, and congratulates bmi on their initiative. Bristol-Hannover Council was founded in 1947. Since then many thousands of Bristolians have travelled to Hannover,...

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Having very much enjoyed our visit to the Bristol Watershed on 29th September 2012 to see "Barbara" (2012), we ventured that way again on 23rd February 2013, this time to see “Lore” (2012). From director Cate Shortland (“Somersault”) it is a gripping story about five siblings raised during the 1930s trying to adjust to life in post-war Germany. With a pre-film gathering in the Watershed bar for food and drink, a great time was had by all. See you there again when the next German film is on.  

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On Monday 11th February we celebrated ‘Rosenmontag’ at the Black Swan pub in Westbury-on-Trym, Bristol. Rosenmontag is the name given in the Rhineland to what is known elsewhere in Germany as ‘Fasching’, and in other countries of Europe as ‘mardi gras’ - it is a very big day in Germany/Austria. So it was in the true Germanic spirit that we gathered for an evening of German food, drink and good spirits, accompanied by traditional “Karneval” music. We were also honoured to be joined by the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Peter Main, who sang along to the “Karneval” songs with...

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