Visits

A group of 6 adventurous travellers set off on 4th May to experience the Coronation weekend with our twin town friends in Runnymede and Luton. We were not sure what to expect, but we were overwhelmed by kindness we met with at private and community parties.

You can’t visit Runnymede without going to the Magna Carta site on the Meadows so our first day took us straight there and despite the weather forecast threatening rain we were met by sunshine which prevailed. Next it was on to the Royal Holloway university with its fabulous architecture before continuing to our first private dinner invitation at the Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey’s house.

We spent that evening in wonderful company. Conversations revolved around the pros and cons of King Charles and his Camilla. Conclusion: there is no right or wrong only personal opinions, focus moved to the recipe for the famous British trifle that arrived at the dinner table at that moment.

Next morning Dennis Brown, chauffeured us to Windsor, flags all around but still relatively quiet which was great as we walked across the bridge to Eton and back, some of the group took a boat trip down the Thamse, others went to the historic shopping area.

Next on our to-do list was visit Denbies vineyard which was half an hour away in Dorking. What shall I say, memories of Sonoma here in the south of England. Sir Adrian, the owner had invited us on a tour which ended in a wine tasting event. Unfortunately, the vinyard does not export but my tip, if you are ever in England look out for the Surrey-Gold!

Saturday, the Coronation. Traditionally it rains on Coronation Days we were told so when it started that morning, we were pleased we had opted not to travel into London but to go along to St Mary’s church in Thorpe where the local community were coming together to watch the event on a large screen and enjoy an opulent buffet lunch afterwards.

The rather solemn Coronation service where we copied the locals as best we could gave way to a jovial, fun get-together where we melted seamlessly into the partying. One or two Germans per table seemed to be the motto. Every one of us was so embedded in conversations that we totally forgot the time. So, the excursion to one of the most beautiful ornamental gardens in England which was planned for the afternoon was rather short. Never mind, we will be back.

Sunday morning, we said goodbye to Runnymede and ventured about 45 Kilometers north to Luton where we met with our twinning partner, David Cannon, who showed us some of the sights we had not visited on previous trips, a museum with a huge private collection of historic coaches and a whole area dedicated to Luton’s hat industry. Fascinating. it would be equally fitting to talk about fascinators’ which have also been made in the hat factories to this very day. Fascinator: a woman’s light decorative headpiece consisting of feathers, beads, flowers etc., attached to a comb or hair band.

Wardown House Museum, Luton Hoo Hotel, Spa and Golf club – just looking- – and finally St Albans, historic town with its magnificent Cathedral completed our trip.

It is going to take a while until we have all digested the impressions and experiences – England is not cheap, the question ‚was it worth it? was answered with a resounding YES.

Many thanks to:

Mayor of Runnymede – Margaret Harnden

Our driver, Vice President of Egham Band – Dennis Brown

Deputy Lieutenant of Surrey – Nick Wood-Dow & his wife Elizabeth

Our twinning partners in Luton – David Cannon, Ann Girling, Lawrence Patterson

Town twinning with Runnymede experienced a country in a state of emergency.

By Jörg Bärschneider

Britain celebrated the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth II's accession to the throne for four exhilarating days, 

The British went wild everywhere with Big Jubilee Lunches, picnics and parades. 16.000 street parties in the United Kingdom alone, hundreds more in the Commonwealth. We travellers to the Queen's Platinum Jubilee at the beginning of June will remember Runnymede for a long time to come. Especially as we were also drawn into the general celebrations and immediately included as a delegation of honour. In the rural partner municipality to the west of London, we immersed ourselves in a way of life that was simply very British: the anniversary of the 96-year-old monarch as a nationwide grassroots movement.

Surprise guest at Heathrow Airport

The trip had been organised by Norbert Brochhagen and Angela Behrend from the Bergisch Gladbach-Runnymede town twinning association. No sooner had we landed at Heathrow. we were greeted by Frank Stein. Together with Behrend, the mayor had flown to the island a day earlier because he was travelling back to open Bergisch Gladbach’s Whitsun Fair at the weekend. Despite his busy schedule Stein did not want to miss the trip to Runnymede. 

To quote Frank Stein: "Finally getting to know our old twin town in England is very important to me. 

We should be happy about contacts between citizens of all kinds across borders and, especially in this day and age do everything we can to develop them further."

Two mayors at the reception

At Runnymede town hall, we were welcomed by two mayors: Margaret Harnden, who has held this office since the end of May, and her predecessor Elaine Gill. We learnt that the post is filled annually and mainly involves representative duties. Head of Administration Paul Turrell was also present. In the council meeting room, a lively discussion ensued about the different roles of mayor and chief executive in the UK and Germany. 

Before travelling on, we gathered in front of the town hall on Magna Platz, where a new plaque in front of a freshly planted rowan tree commemorates the partnership with Bergisch Gladbach. 

Bergisch Gladbach in front of a newly planted rowan tree. A nice gesture, as it bears witness to the appreciation of the relationship between the two municipalities, which dates back to the 1960s.

Twelve bronze chairs on the meadows

It is only a few minutes from Magna-Platz to Magna-Carta-Meadows. Anyone arriving here first time here might wonder what is so historic about this meadow along the Thames. 

The Thames is so steeped in history. The answer is provided by twelve bronze chairs, which are an art installation standing in the landscape and called "The Jurors". It is here that England's most powerful princes are said to have forced their King John Ohneland to submit to the written law in 1215 and thus established the beginnings of the modern rule of law.

The Egham Band, the centre-piece of the partnership

Without Dennis Brown, we would be pretty much lost. For Angela and Norbert, he is the number one contact person in Runnymede, he knows everyone and everything that is important in the town. 

He is a calming influence and our constant driver. Above all, however, he manages the Egham brass band. This brass ensemble, which is more than 160 years old, is the centrepiece of the 

town twinning and has been to the Rhineland many times, most recently to the Strunde in 2019. 

Dennis chauffeured us to the band's clubhouse, where the musicians gave us a lovely reception with music, a buffet, and drinks. The main topic of conversation is the the band's return visit to the town festival in September.

3,000 beacons for the Queen

Later that evening, we experience the nationwide kick-off to the throne celebrations. Everyone who can walk flocks to an elevated clearing in the forest for the sociable "Lighting of Beacon". Margaret, as the mayor is addressed everywhere, doesn't look 82 for a second. Wrapped in a deep red velvet robe and with a heavy chain of office around her neck, she takes the microphone: "We have always been lucky with our Queen, especially in difficult times. Let us be aware that we will probably never celebrate such a big anniversary again. That certainly applies to me in any case." At 9.45 p.m. on the dot, she presses the button that lights the metre-high beacon next to her. one of more than 3,000 across the country. Applause erupts, accompanied by the twang of a bagpipe.

Shrill theatre, chubby corgies

The next two days are set to become a royal state of emergency. For us with a public festival in the grounds of the elite TASIS school in nearby Thorpe. 

Thorpe: toddlers and grandparents with flags painted on their cheeks, shrill theatre, chubby corgies in Union Jack jackets, cheerful china smashing. And the sun shines above it all, inviting people to settle comfortably on their picnic blankets. 

The highlight is the Egham Band concert with two dozen musicians. 

Conductor Gareth Green explains the programme: "Well-known pieces from all parts of the country". At the end, Beethoven's European anthem is played - a signal to hidden Brexiteers?

As you know them, the British

And so, it continues the next day in Windsor. With the changing of the Royal Guard around the castle that the Queen has made her permanent home since her coronavirus isolation. On the "Long Walk", a dead straight avenue in the park, thousands of people promenade past a classic car show and sit down in front of the stage for a concert. To patriotic sounds, waving flags, exuberant and united. The latter is not exactly a matter of course in an otherwise turbulent country. But these days, everything just wants to work out. Whereby the British live up to their reputation of escaping the pathos trap with a pinch of humour and self-irony. The Egham band also performs - a special honour within earshot of the royal apartments.

Partnership with lots of music

On the evening before departure, our British hosts provide another small sensation. The former mayor Elaine and her husband Harry invited us, Margaret and some of the band members to a farewell buffet in their garden. Suddenly Dennis starts a speech and appoints Angela and Norbert as vice-presidents of the Egham Band. 

 "Thank you for giving us a home in your community," both express their joy at this unexpected sign of friendship. When Dennis drives us back to the airport the next day, there is no doubt in anyone's mind: this partnership is full of music!