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Reports 2023

Please note that not every group receives direct cash aid from the Association.

Mary Gibson - International Reading Day
St. Kentigern's and Berufskolleg Eichholz Youth Exchange
HSK bowling group
Joint Committee meeting in Livingston.

Exchanges were much slower to restart after the Covid pandemic than we had anticipated.
Clearly it will take some time and effort to rebuild the momentum.

There were, however, some notable, self-funded visits :-

- Mary Gibson and her husband traveled to HSK to take part in an annual international 'reading day'.
The image below shows Mary reading to German Kindergarten children from the
book "Room on the Broom".

Mary Gibson reads

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- A group of students from St. Kentigern's school visited HSK funded by Europe.......

St. Kents in HSK

St. Kents in HSK

St. Kents in HSK

St. Kents in HSK translation below

Vocational college in Eichholz remembers the Möhne catastrophe.
Scottish and German students set off together to the dam to explore its history.

Arnsberg / Möhnesee
Today the dam is a popular excursion destination. What is quickly forgotten is that exactly 80 years ago
it was an iconic site during the second world war. The Möhne catastrophe, as a memorial for peace,
was therefore the focus of a special encounter. The students of both Nations were obviously
impressed by the imposing structure, whose inner workings they were allowed to explore.
The bombing of the dam by the RAF is firmly anchored in Scottish memory. Head of Modern Languages
at St. Kentigern's Academy in Blackburn, Imelda Glakin, summarised their impressions into words-
"It makes you think, standing in this place yourself". Vice-Principal Sarah Murray emphasised
"The shared memory of the younger generation lays the foundation for friendship across borders.
" The school groups had previously worked on the historical events together at the Vocational College
at Eichholz. The visit concluded with a public discussion.

Lively conversations
Sebastian Schüttler, Chairman of the German twinning committee summarised by saying "The lively
conversations testify to a friendly relationship between the two nations, which we as an
association will continue into the future. The cross-border co-operation between the two
Twinning Associations has been impressive for over 50 years, showing how opponents can become
friends. The civic basis of the partnership has formed the voluntary work which is now undertaken
by both twinning committees. An important part of the partnership is to promote encounters
between young people, especially in view of current conflicts, to inspire future generations."

- ..... and a group of students reciprocated with a visit to St. Kentigern's

HSK to St. Kents

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- Chairman Chris Horne made a private, social visit to HSK.

- The bowling Club of which Sebastian Schüttler (Chairman of the Partnerschaft) is
a member, visited Linlithgow to try out lawn bowling on real grass! Prior to that they
had only used Astroturf.

Bowlers in St, Michael's Visit to St. Michael's, Linlithgow, with WLTA Chairman Chris Horne and past Chair Liz Liddell.

Bowlers at LUCS Group leader with Councillor Carl John at the Canal Society in Linlithgow.

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- A youth club from HSK visited West Lothian.

- Sebastian Schüttler and Uli Blum, members of the Partnershaft committee, visited
West Lothian and took part in a joint committee meeting in Livingston.

Joint Committee Meeting Uli Blum, second from left, is a former HSK Councillor
having served from 1989 to 2020.

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- Some 30 college students lead by their lecturer Neil Davie continued a series of
fact-finding visits to West Lothian as part of their business studies course.

We are hopeful that we may receive fuller reports from one or more of these groups.