From 5-27 November, an exhibition was  held in Göttingen’s Town Hall commemorating the outbreak of the first world war.  Photographs supplied by the camera clubs of both towns of WW1 monuments and memorials in Cheltenham and Götttingen, together with many British artefacts and newspaper cuttings were on display, providing an interesting perspective of the war from both sides.

The British artefacts were sourced and supplied by Melissa Webb who earlier this year staged a WW1 exhibition at the Maxima Forum Centre in Lansdown Road.  We are very grateful to Melissa for her co-operation with this project.  Melissa drove over to Göttingen to see the end of the exhibition and bring back her goodies!!  She was kindly being hosted by a Göttingen family and had time to visit the Göttingen Christmas market and try some Gluhwein!

Andrew North, Councillor Garth Barnes and Annette Wight represented Cheltenham in Göttingen at their National Day of Mourning on 16 November 2014.  Andrew North gave an address at the service and a poppy wreath was laid together alongside the Göttingen wreaths at the memorial dedicated to those who lost their lives in World Wars 1 and 2 in the town’s cemetery.  Wreaths were also laid at the tomb stones of two British soldiers who had died in world war 1 and who were buried in Göttingen in a moving and poignant show of unity between the Göttingen and Cheltenham people present.

Sixty members of the Göttingen Stadtkantorei visited Cheltenham from 4-9 November as hosts of the Cheltenham Bach Choir and on Saturday 8 November the massed choir of over 120 voices sang Beethovens’ Missa Solemnis at the Town Hall.  Together with a 50 piece orchestra and 4 soloists, the Göttingen conductor Bernd Eberhardt superbly brought everyone together for an amazing concert which was enjoyed by all.  The Göttingen choir also had a reception with the Mayor, when they filled the Council Chamber with song.

On Remembrance Sunday, the Göttingen conductor represented the town of Göttingen  by laying a wreath at the War Memorial during the service.

From 25 October to 1 November 2014, a group of 27 young people aged between 12 and 15 came to Cheltenham to spend their half term week exploring their twin town.  The youngsters all stayed in host families so that they had the chance to learn more about the English way of life and practise their English.  The group went on trips to Gloucester, London and Alton Towers, as well as enjoying the sports facilities at Leisure-at, exploring and shopping in Cheltenham and having a reception with the Mayor in the Council Chamber.

Eight vocational students from Cheltenham’s twin town of Göttingen are currently undertaking 6-week work experience placements in public and private enterprises across Cheltenham.

Carol Stephens of Delingua Training was delighted to be joined by Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion holder Stuart Langworthy of Stuart Langworthy Training in delivering a day of enterprising English language and business training for the students at Cheltenham YMCA.

Stuart worked with the group to help them understand the skills, qualities and attitudes employers are looking for and helped them to develop their personal statement.

Stuart said: Work experience can be highly beneficial for both students and for organisations. Students can offer new ideas or take on projects that the company just doesn’t have the time to carry out.

Cheltenham YMCA has strong links with Göttingen particularly following a visit from members of Göttingen YMCA earlier in the year and was delighted to offer its town-centre training facilities.

The Cheltenham Twinning Association provides valuable support to such twinning visits and also helped Cheltenham students in taking up placements in Cheltenham’s French twin town of Annecy summer.