News
JANUARY 2025
Message from Edward
Hello Everyone
I am grateful to those of you who came up with a suggested venue for our first Stammtisch of the year. The key is a place with enough seating that we can hopefully just turn up without booking so those wishing to attend can decide at the last moment.
So I have gone along with the suggestion of Maypole Farm in Kempston, a venue that we have used in the past. It has been suggested that we do a Saturday lunchtime for a change so I propose that we meet on 8th February at 1 pm, then we should be back home before dark.
There will be a committee meeting on 10 February so we should be able to firm up on dates for future events.
JANUARY 2025
Message from Edward
Hello Everyone
I wish all of you a happy New Year.
It is time to work out our programme for the forthcoming 12 months and of course it is our turn to travel to Bamberg. My previous email set the dates from Monday 8th to Monday 15th September - that is still the case but Ryanair have changed the flight times with the outward flight at 18.00, later than ideal. I have contacted Ryanair who advise there is no point in changing to a different flight at this stage as they may change again.
There is currently a lunchtime flight on the Sunday so that could be an option.
For those of you looking to join the visit and yet to book a flight, I would ask that you do nothing yet apart from keeping that week free. At this stage I would ask that you let me know if you are hoping to be with us and if you have already confirmed with your hosts. I am fairly confident that there will be hosts for any newcomers. Ryanair expect to email me 3 months before the flight to confirm the revised flight times, when a change can be made without additional cost.
Our St Nikolaus evening in December went well thanks to the committee and now it is time to start planning future meet-ups. It has been suggested that we do a lunchtime Winter Stammtisch and I feel a Saturday would be less busy than a Sunday. Jo and I can only make Saturday 8th February so it will be a case of come and join us if you can make it. We do not plan to book anywhere but I wonder if anyone has any suggestions of a suitable venue that could accommodate a few of us from say 1 pm. The venue will then be confirmed in good time.
I will need to agree with the committee dates for our AGM towards the end of March and our Annual Dinner towards the end of April, so look out for a future newsletter.
SEPTEMBER 2024
Visit to Bamberg
Message from Edward
Ursula and I are already making plans for the visit next year which will be from Monday 8 September to Monday 15 September and some of us have already booked the flights from Stansted with Ryanair. Whatever way you plan to travel, please try to keep the dates free. We have always a wonderful time and next year should be no different. Let me know if you plan to join the visit and if you have hosts already or need hosts to be found so we can begin to make arrangements.
PRESS RELEASE FROM BEDFORD BOROUGH COUNCIL
Bedford hosts visitors from our German twin town
Guten Tag to our friends from Bedford’s German twin town of Bamberg, who are visiting as part of the two towns' ongoing international friendship.
The visit was the result of co-operation between Bedford Borough Council, our counterparts at the Stadtrat in Bamberg, and the Bedford Bamberg Association.
A German delegation arrived at Stansted on Tuesday, headed by Bürgermeister Wolfgang Metzner. They were treated to a reception at the Old Town Hall on Wednesday, before heading to Pavenham Park Golf Club for a welcome party.
And while the visitors met with Bedford dignitaries and members of the Bedford Bamberg Association, Bürgermeister Metzner also took time to chat with German language students from Bedford Modern School to discuss a range of topics and help them hone their linguistic skills!
The week-long trip is also taking in visits to other nearby attractions, such as a trip to the Roman Theatre, Verulamium Museum and Cathedral in St Albans, and to watch morris dancing in Lincoln.
Tom Wootton, Mayor of Bedford Borough said; “I’m incredibly keen to ensure that we strengthen bonds with our friends in Bamberg.“Our two towns have been twinned since 1977, and this link offers so many opportunities for all ages. I was particularly delighted to see the students discussing politics and history - in German! - with Bürgermeister Metzner.
“Special thanks also go to everyone who has worked so hard to maintain our friendship links, including the Bedford Bamberg Association, and Brigitte Riegelbauer in the mayor’s office in Bamberg.
“Here’s to another half-century of friendship – Prost!”.
Photos from the visit can be found here.
BAMBERG VISIT SEPTEMBER 2024 ITINERARY
Tuesday 3 September
Group land on flight from Nuremburg at Stansted 15.55 and will be met by Edward at Arrivals and hopefully join the Expresslines coach by 17.00 for the journey to Bedford, with estimated time of arrival around 18.30 at Mowsbury Park main car park off Wentworth Drive (to be confirmed). Hosts, please check Stansted arrival information before setting out to collect guest[s] although Edward will try to message if long delay.
Wednesday 4 September
Reception with Mayor in the afternoon, then Welcome Party to commence 16.00 at Pavenham Park Golf Club, cost £12 per head for a buffet (free for visitors). Please let Edward know if you are attending and pay Graham.
Thursday 5 September
Coach trip departing Bedford 9.30 for St Albans with visits to the Roman Theatre, Verulamium Museum and Cathedral before departure at 16.30. There are a limited number of free seats available for hosts/members on a first come first served basis at a cost of £30 including entrances, please let Edward know and pay him directly. Precise pick up/drop off location to be advised.
Friday 6 September
Free day.
Saturday 7 September
Coach trip departing Bedford 8.00 for Lincoln with drop off in the Cathedral/Castle area where Red Cuthbert Morris Dancers are expecting to perform during the day. Departure at 17.00. Free seats available to hosts and dancers, four other seats are available at a cost of £25 each (no entrances are included as there are various visiting options available). Precise pick up/drop off location to be advised. Please contact Edward if you wish to go.
Sunday 8 September
Optional day trip by train to London. Details to be determined but Edward may possibly arrange a boat cruise on the Thames or a Red Bus tour and a visit to London's newest Viewing Platform at 22 Bishopsgate, as high as the Shard. Train back to Bedford in the early evening. To avoid possible queues at Bedford station, it may be desirable to buy travelcards in advance.
Monday 9 September
Free day.
Farewell Dinner at Pavenham Park Golf Club to be served from 17.00 so arrive at least 30 minutes before to order and pay for your drinks from the bar and find your table. This will be a 3 course meal followed by coffee and mints. As normal, there will be no charge for the guests and hosts. Members not hosting are more than welcome to join the evening at a cost of £27 including a £2 gratuity. A menu will shortly be provided and I will need your choices at least a week before.
Tuesday 10 September
Coach to leave Bedford (probably Mowsbury Park car park again) 8.30 for Stansted so please ensure that you drop guests off in good time.
*****
SEPTEMBER 2023
We had a very successful trip to Bamberg, where we were joined by Red Cuthbert, a local morris dancing group. Full report to follow.
Report of the trip in the Fränkischer Tag,
the local Bamberg newspaper.
Please see the photo gallery for more photos, including our meeting with the mayor.
JUNE 2023
Summer Supper and Stammtisch
As you know, we are having a Summer Supper on Saturday June 24th, starting from 5pm at Edward & Jo’s house (The Walled Garden, Church Lane, Pavenham, MK43 7PU). A buffet meal will be provided, desserts and drinks; the cost is £15 which can be paid in advance by bank transfer or cash on the evening. In order for the Committee to cater we need to know numbers in good time and would appreciate you letting Margarete know if you can come BY JUNE 16th please:
01234 764295 or
There will also be another Stammtisch – this time on a Wednesday evening from 6pm on August 2nd; again at Brewpoint off the Clapham roundabout.
I hope to see you soon and best wishes
Rosemary
APRIL 2023
Visit to Bamberg, 4-11th September.
Currently 18 members have booked. Edward is considering transfers to Stansted airport for what is now an early morning flight; transfers from Nürnberg airport are being investigated.
There would be a Reception with a new Mayor on Tuesday, with the afternoon free. On Wednesday a trip to Amberg, ca. 1.5 hours from Bamberg is planned with a guided tour. Thursday – a visit to Coburg. Friday to Erlangen by train. Saturday a free day until the Farewell evening at Geisfeld, and Sunday also a free day. It was suggested there might be a Morris Dancing display on the Saturday evening – or some Bedford folk songs. More information to follow.
MARCH 2023
Message from Graham: Tree planting
To commemorate the 45th anniversary in 2022 of the twinning between Bedford and Bamberg, Bamberg City Council has arranged for a tree to be planted on the riverside at The Embankment, Bedford.
The ceremony will take place at 11.00am on Friday 17 March when the tree will be planted by the Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson. The Mayor will explain the background to the tree planting and, on behalf of the BBA, Edward, as Chairman, will also say a few words. It is also possible that a speech from the Oberbürgermeister of Bamberg will be read out.
The location of the ceremony is on the riverside near to Longholme Lake and the boathouse there, near to the Butterfly Bridge. (Please note that the Butterfly Bridge is currently closed so it would be necessary to use the Suspension Bridge to cross the river).
At the time of the ceremony a schools exchange arrangement will be taking place when pupils from the Clavius Gymnasium in Bamberg will be with pupils at Bedford Modern School. Arrangements are in place for the Bamberg teachers and pupils to be at the ceremony together, perhaps also with Bedford Modern School teachers and pupils.
The ceremony is a public event and naturally all members of BBA are welcome to attend.
If any of those members who are there can film the event on their mobile phones, please let Graham know as it will be valuable if such a record of the ceremony can be sent to Bamberg.
Kind regards.
Graham
JANUARY 2023
Message from Edward: Annual Dinner
Hello Members,
Following some positive feedback, I have booked Pavenham Park Golf Club for our Annual Dinner which has had to be cancelled these past 3 years as a result of covid and so it will be good to hold the event again. This will take place on Sunday 23 April at 5 pm and I have agreed a price of £25 for a 3-course meal with coffee and mints to follow with the menu attached. This represents good value as we are never disappointed with the standard of meal and service there so please join us if you can. At this stage I would ask that you please confirm whether or not you plan to attend - payment will be collected around the time of the AGM at the end of March and then menu choices will be sought. Partners and guests will also be welcome.
It is well over 2 weeks ago since I wrote concerning the September visit to Bamberg. Thanks to those of you who have responded but I do need the rest of you to now let me know your intentions. It is not possible to begin making detailed arrangements until I have a clear idea of how many will be making up our group. You have had enough time to contact your possible hosts and consider if you are able to join the group, so I would be grateful if everyone could now reply.
Thanks.
Edward
JANUARY 2023
Message from Edward: September Trip to Bamberg
Hello Members
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you a peaceful New Year. Let us hope that we do not have one as bad as 2022 with all the problems experienced both at home and overseas.
Thanks to Graham and Sharon, I have just discovered that the times of our flights in September have changed, although I am yet to receive any official notification from Ryanair. Still, "c'est la vie" with any form of travel nowadays so not a big surprise. The outward flight FR7632 on Monday 4/9 is now 15.40 to arrive 18.15 so we should be in Bamberg around 20.00 all being well. The return flight FR7633 on Monday 11/9 is now 18.40 to arrive 19.25 so hopefully back in Bedford around 21.00. It means less time on the day of arrival and more on the day of departure, but a good thing is there is no early morning departure.
While there are 8 months to the visit, I need to start sorting out the detail concerning transfers and with Ursula host arrangements and any trips/visits. We are hopeful that the Red Cuthbert Morris Dancers will be making the trip at the same time and so our itinerary will take any possible performances into account. The group always receives a very warm welcome and everyone has a great time, so no reason to expect any difference this time.
Naturally I hope as many members as possible will join the group for the week. If you are planning to fly, if not already done, you do need to get your flight booked asap in case the seats are all sold, but also to obtain the cheapest price available. If you wish to make other travel arrangements, that is fine but please let me know your plans.
Those who have taken part in previous visits, here in Bedford or in Bamberg, may well have hosts already sorted so please confirm that to me. If you are new and require hosting, please let me know so we can try to sort out hosts. Some members have booked hotels in the past and while that is ok, you may need to make your own arrangements to get to and from pick-up places. I accept that one or two of you may wish to join the visit but are not able to host.
It would be very helpful for all members to email me to advise whether or not they plan to join the visit this year, so I can either include or discount you. If you have any queries, please contact me.
Our first event of the year will be a Stammtisch get-together at the Pilgrims in town on Sunday 26 February. Jo and I plan to arrive at 4 pm and it would be good for some of you to join us there.
Then our AGM will take place on Friday evening 31 March.
Our family enjoyed a lovely 3 course meal after Christmas at Pavenham Park Golf Club and everyone seemed to enjoy the Farewell Dinner there last September. So, I believe it will be a good venue for our Annual Dinner around the weekend of 22/23 April but I would like to know the level of interest before making a firm booking.
Best wishes.
Edward