TWINNING VISIT OF
SV POSEIDON LEER, GERMANY, TO TROWBRIDGE
Thursday 16 – Monday 20 October 2008
Twinning visits between Trowbridge Swimming Club and it’s counterpart in Trowbridge’s twin town in Germany commenced in 1989, when SV Poseidon Leer visited Trowbridge for the first time. The following year Trowbridge Swimming Club responded by visiting Leer. These alternate visits proved so successful they have been ongoing ever since.
The purpose of the visits is to expose swimmers of both clubs to competition outside their local area and country, thereby providing an international dimension to the swimmers of both clubs under the umbrella of Trowbridge Town’s twinning partnership arrangement with Leer. At the same time the swimmers experience another culture and language. It is also designed to promote good will to like-minded children and adults of both towns, all of who share and enjoy a common interest in the sport of swimming. Personal friendships have inevitably developed over the years with private visits outside the formal exchange arrangements not uncommon. The benefits are many.
Accommodation for our guests is provided by host families from within Trowbridge Swimming Club, and every effort is made to match swimmers and adults to families as appropriately as possible with due regard to gender and age of swimmers. Additionally, any preferences expressed for hosting specific individuals will be noted and will be taken into account as far as possible.
The programme of events for the weekend is carefully designed to be action packed and includes a swimming gala, a trip to a local place of interest, a disco or something similar (usually) and a meal at the Civic Hall at which gifts are presented and speeches made. Above all, the accent is on guests and members of Trowbridge ASC mixing together and having an enjoyable time.
Whilst TASC’s first priority as a club is of course swimming, the success of these exchange visits with Leer has been nothing short of astonishing, being acknowledged as representing twinning in its purest form. Consequently they have attracted much interest and recognition amongst officials, local organisations and dignitaries from both towns, with Trowbridge’s Mayor and Town Crier, and Leer’s Burgermeister (Mayor) often in attendance at the functions being organised.
The number travelling from Germany is expected to be around 40 to 45, comprising roughly equal numbers of swimmers and adults. Funding for hosting will be a mixture of fundraising activities, subsidy from the Club and if we are lucky a grant from the Town Council, keeping personal outlay by host families to a minimum. The hospitality we give to SV Poseidon is very much appreciated by them – and is repaid tenfold when Trowbridge ASC travels to Leer!
If you feel you would like to be included in the pool of families willing to offer accommodation to a swimmer(s) or an adult(s) and be fully part of this weekend, please add your name and details to the list, and if there are any questions, please feel free to contact any of the following:
Stewart Cuthbert |
Tel: 01225 350933 |
email: stewartcuthbert@yahoo.co.uk |
Angela Brennan |
Tel: 01225 753915 |
email: brennanafam@tesco.net |
Sally Huggett |
Tel: 01225 768695 |
Email: westholmepat@aol.com |
Kevin & Helen Fricker |
Tel: 01225 774180 |
Email: frick47007@blueyonder.co.uk |
Thank you, and regards.
Stewart Cuthbert