Wet and windy weather greeted twenty-three guests from Lymington’s German twin town, Mosbach, including four students who came as a reward for good performance in English at school. But they did not allow it to dampen their enthusiasm. On their first day a trip on the top of the 56a bus to Lyndhurst took them to the New Forest Centre, followed by lunch in the Verderers’ Court. Here, former Verderer Peter Frost explained the work of the Verderers over many centuries. Then Forestry Commission ecologist Simon Weymouth described how and why EU money has paid for some of the work undertaken to return the meanders to a number of Forest streams. In steady rain the braver members of the group and their hosts followed Simon to see the swollen Blackwater which had, as intended, spilled over its banks to fertilize the surrounding land with sediment.
That evening the guests and their hosts took part in an international quiz held at Lymington Community Centre, with a typically British fish and chip supper. The German guests were particularly good at identifying photos of European statesmen and women, and enjoyed the quiz as a novelty, because they do not have this kind of activity in their local community. On the Saturday morning many of the guests were to be found at Lymington’s market quite early, before attending a reception at the Town Hall given by Mayor Cllr Jan Hawker and other councillors. They then spent the rest of the day with their hosts, who were provided with complimentary tickets for their guests for the St Barbe Museum and Gallery as well as a walking tour quiz about central Lymington and its history. Many took the chance to visit the coast, as Mosbach is far inland and the sea remains a novelty. In the evening, guests and hosts got together for an informal supper at Boldre Memorial Hall, after which they were wonderfully entertained by some of the Friday Girls from Brockenhurst with a selection of songs, under the direction of Cynthia Wilson. A coach trip on Sunday took hosts and guests to Winchester which they toured during the morning under their umbrellas, visiting the Great Hall and Round Table, the City Museum and the Cathedral. But the rain stopped in time for some to stroll across the water meadows after lunch along the Keats Walk to the Hospital of St Cross, where they were joined by the rest of the party for a most entertaining guided tour given by two of the Brothers, followed by tea and homemade cake. The German visitors’ last day began with a coach journey across the Forest to Hythe, where in bright sunshine they enjoyed the ferry trip to Town Quay in Southampton, with a good view of a huge cruise ship. A short walk then took them to the Maritime Museum where most made a beeline for the Titanic display, as they had all seen the film. After this a stroll past the Pilgrim Fathers’ memorial, the city walls and Westgate, Tudor House and Medieval Merchants Hall led to La Esquina tapas bar in Oxford Street where they all enjoyed an excellent buffet lunch before heading off in their coach to Southampton Airport. |
Mosbach Twinners visit to Lymington
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Other exchange visits with Mosbach:
Mosbach Twinners visit to Lymington 2014
Lymington Twinners trip to Mosbach 2013
Mosbach Twinners visit to Lymington 2012
Lymington Twinners trip to Mosbach 2011
Mosbach Twinners visit to Lymington 2010
Mosbach Twinners visit to Lymington 2014
Lymington Twinners trip to Mosbach 2013
Mosbach Twinners visit to Lymington 2012
Lymington Twinners trip to Mosbach 2011
Mosbach Twinners visit to Lymington 2010
Lymington International Twinning Association
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