Return to Biberach - a personal story
Guernseyman David Skillett returned to Biberach to celebrate Schützenfest this summer, and shared some of the highlights of his trip:
“I recently visited Biberach having been invited to take part in the parade of the 70 year olds. By way of explanation, the town of Biberach invites people who were born there, or happen to be in the town on the relevant day and are celebrating a decennial birthday in that year, to take part in a parade. The age groups start at 40 and after the age of 60 the invitation is given every five years. Prior to the parade each age group poses for a photograph and then gathers at St Martin’s church for a celebratory service. After the service each group is joined by a band which leads it through the market square and selected streets which are thronged with friends, well wishers and spectators who hang presents on the participants. Each group is led off to separate halls where it’s members feast and dance until the early hours. This was my second parade having participated when I was sixty. The parade is held in July as part of the week long Schützenfest celebrations which were very much enjoyed by the Guernsey Concert and Orchestral Society.
In the above photograph (click to enlarge) I am on the RH side second row down with Guernsey Flag. Fourth from the right in the second row from the front is Lucy Decarteret a member of the above mentioned choir. My “Milch Brüder” Heiner Koch is standing fourth from the left in the front row.
The 2nd photo is an interesting picture of the Guernsey Concert and Orchestral Society outside St Martin’s Church. During our visit, my sister Gloria and I accompanied the choir on their visit to the former internment camp where they viewed the model of the camp. We were were able to show copies of our father’s paintings of the camp which were of great interest.”
