Bracknell Twinning Association

27/06/2016
lev06

Schloss Morsbroich – Morsbroich Palace, Leverkusen

Bracknell Twinning Association works with the Freundeskreis in Leverkusen to arrange regular visits to their partner towns and in particular to facilitate exchanges between local interest groups, schools and sports clubs and for work experience.

Bracknell originally twinned in 1973 with Opladen in Germany, a town of a similar size to itself.  During a local government re-organisation the Opladen local authority was absorbed by Leverkusen, a town of about 160,000 people and the home of the famous Bayer Chemical Works. Leverkusen continued the partnership and is also twinned with several other towns across the world. Leverkusen is just north of Cologne and has a good train service to this city. You can read more about Leverkusen in the “Welcome to Leverkusen” guide. (Link below)

Bracknell Twinning Association works with the Freundeskreis in Leverkusen to arrange regular visits to their partner towns and in particular to facilitate exchanges between local interest groups, schools and sports clubs and for work experience. In recent years the bond of friendship between citizens of the twin towns has been re-kindled with an increasing number of exchanges and joint activities.

Regular updates about exchanges and joint activities are posted on the Council’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Bracknelltowncouncil

The Bracknell Twinning Association is run by a committee elected each year at its Annual General Meeting. All its meetings are held in the Bracknell Town Council Chamber, usually on Monday evenings at about monthly intervals. Any local resident interested in twinning is welcome to make contact and attend the meetings. Various sports and cultural exchanges take place on a regular basis and the committee is always pleased to facilitate other exchanges for clubs or individuals.

The Association would be pleased to hear from anyone who may be able to offer accommodation to visitors from Leverkusen.
(more…)

A Message of Support from Leverkusen

20/03/2020

Michael Gutbier, a friend of Bracknell for many years, has sent us the following from Leverkusen:

Being there for each other.
That’s the most important.

20/03/2020 – Dear friends, a difficult time lies ahead. Take care of yourselves and each other. Stay well! Keep physical distance, but be there for each other. Communicate much and in many ways, creating a different but so important form of closeness! I wish you and all dear ones all the best from my heart! Together we will get through this difficult time!

 

Michael Gutbier

Michael Gutbier, Leverkusen

46th Twinning Exchange Visit a Great Success

06/07/2019

Another wonderful Bracknell/Leverkusen exchange

The 46th exchange visit of residents has just ended. 17 guests from Leverkusen arrived in Bracknell on June 27, 2019 and were welcomed by their host families.
On Friday June 28, we did a tour of the new Town Centre of Bracknell, ending with cake and refreshments at the Bracknell Town Council Chambers. Here the Mayor of Bracknell Town Council, Councillor Isabel Mattick, welcomed the guests. We then visited South Hill Park Arts Centre and after lunch had a tour of the facilities offered here. Our visitors were suitably impressed by the range of activities seen. We then visited the Jealott’s Hill Land Share and David Putt explained what happens here, all the groups involved and the philosophy behind the project. After walking around all the grounds the strawberries, cakes and tea were very much appreciated by all.
In the evening we all met at the New Great Hollands Pavilion for an International Quiz and supper of baked potatoes and fillings.
On Saturday June 29 we visited Blenheim Palace. All admired the palace and the grounds. We then did a detour to visit Oxford. Some went into the Ashmolean Museum; others did a short walk around the city. This was the hottest day this year!
The evening was spent with the host families.
Sunday June 30 – Hampton Court Palace and grounds and another beautifully sunny day.
In the evening all guests and hosts met at the Koh-i-Noor restaurant in Bracknell for a buffet meal.
On Monday July 1, we visited London and had a guided tour of the Houses of Parliament. With translating help from many of the visitors and hosts, all learned a great deal about the parliamentary system as well as the history of the building. The three hour boat trip on the Thames, past Greenwich to the Thames Barrier and back was a huge success. The weather was perfect and the detailed commentary easily understood by all.

This final evening was shared with hosts.
The weather was amazing and helped make this whole visit a great success; thoroughly enjoyed by both guest and hosts. It was wonderful to renew friendships and welcome new friends. The Twinning relationship between our two towns is very strong and we look forward to our return visit to Leverkusen next year- June 2020.

Mary Temperton
Chair of Bracknell Twinning Association

Click here to view the Bracknell 2019 visit gallery of images… (Google)
Click here to view the image gallery on the Leverkusen Twinning website… (in German)

Click here to view the image gallery on the Leverkusen website… (in German)

Archive
Tel: 01344 426191 Email: mary.temperton@bracknelltowncouncil.gov.uk