Guernsey Newsletter, April 2012
Dear Friends,
With the anniversary of the former Deportees’ Liberation Day approaching, in fact this year will mark the 70th anniversary of the deportation, I would like to invite you all once more to come to the GFBA AGM which will take place on 23rd April at noon at the Peninsula Hotel.
I also take this opportunity to report on our activities of the past 12 months.
I am pleased to say that our links with Biberach are now so widespread and many groups and individuals now have built up their own personal links that we are not necessarily aware of all the different activities.
Do have a look at our website: www.guernseybiberach.com which the German Honorary Consul Chris Betley kindly keeps up-dated for us and you will be able to get a lot more detail on the activities mentioned below than this short newsletter.
Visit from Biberach
Our friends in Biberach also organise things independently, so for instance a group under the leadership of Rotraud Rebmann will be visiting from 30th April to 7th May staying at Les Cotils. Helga and Hans Peter Reiser and Pastor Eberhardt Goehner are among the group. They have booked everything themselves, so I don’t know what is on their programme, but I am sure they will be pleased if you pop in either in the evening or around breakfast time.
Former Deportees’ Visit to Biberach
As this year marks the 70th anniversary of the Deportation a group has been invited to visit Biberach from 13th to 18th June this year. Do get in touch with Tom Remfrey, Tel. 254185, if you are interested in being part of the group.
German Language Course in Biberach
Every year in July, Biberach organises a week’s German Course for young people from its partner towns. Three local youngsters took part last year and reported how much they enjoyed the experience. There is still time to book in for this year’s course from 6th to 15th July, so do get in touch if you know any young people learning German who might be interested.
Olympic Games in Biberach
From 6th to 8th July 2012 Biberach is organising an Olympic Games Event where a variety of sports clubs from its partner towns are invited to take part. This is the first time Guernsey has also been invited. For more details please look at our website.
Guernsey Young Ambassadors
With generous sponsorship from the Deutsche Bank we have recently launched a new project organised by Ken Wheeler. In October this year eight young people from different local schools will be visiting Biberach representing Guernsey there and learning more about our historic links. It is hoped that Young Guernsey Ambassadors will be visiting Biberach every year in future.
Bailiff’s Visit to Biberach
In July 2011 the Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland and his wife Diana paid their last official visit to Biberach during Schuetzenfest week. They were accompanied by deputies Mike O’Hara and Tony Spruce. We are very grateful to Sir Geoffrey and Diana for all the help and support they have given us over the years. Sir Geoffrey’s efforts to help with forming closer links with Biberach have been very much appreciated and we would like to take this opportunity to thank him and wish him well for his retirement.
We are looking forward to meeting up on Monday, 23rd April 2012 for our AGM at 12.00 noon at the Peninsula Hotel. The AGM will be followed by the GDA’s annual St George’s Day luncheon at 13.00 where you are also very welcome. To book your place please telephone Tom Remfrey on 254185.
With best wishes,
Irene Harvey
Secretary
GFBA
