Forthcoming Events
| Date | Event | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| 26th March 2023 | Film Night - with buffet | Dodworth Central Social Club S75 3JA - 7pm start All welcome - Payment in advance please |
| 24th October 2023 | Annual German Dinner | The Open Kitchen Barnsley - 6.30pm seated for 7pm |
Latest News
22/03/23
School exchange - Gmünd students in Székesfehérvár
GMÜNDER TAGESPOST 21.3.2023
A big reception at the beginning of a school partnership: Pupils, headmistress and teacher of the Adalbert-Stifter-Realschule,
city councillors,
members of the city partnership association and representatives of the city administration welcomed three teachers from Székesfehérvár. Photo: © HOJ
Author: Michael Länge
Adalbert-Stifter-Realschule starts a school partnership with the Lanczos Kornél high school in Gmünd's Hungarian twin town.
Tiziana wants to get to know a new country. Lara wants to meet new people, and Sidra wants to learn a little Hungarian.
The students are three of 23 students in grades 8 and 9 of the Adalbert-Stifter-Realschule, who are going on a student exchange to Gmünd's Hungarian twin town of Székesfehérvár in May.
This is the first student exchange for about 20 years, said Rector Adelheid Singer-Luschka. With seven students and two colleagues, Singer-Luschka attended a reception organized by the city administration for three teachers from the Lanczos Kornél high school in Székesfehérvár on Tuesday. Iren Lehota, Beate Schneider and Eva Vanja went to Gmünd to prepare for the exchange.
The fact that a large group greeted the teachers shows them "how important the visit is to us," said Mayor Christian Baron. Gmünd is very interested in the exchange with Székesfehérvár continuing after the Corona years. Baron has fond memories of his visits to Hungary and the "heartiness of the people". For the students, it's not just about the culture, it's also about languages. "It's always a little harder for those who don't know English or French," he said.
Four or five years ago, there was a discussion as to whether town twinning was outdated, then Corona came, then the Ukraine war. Today, Europe is looking for its role between China and the US, "this situation calls for city twinning with an honest exchange," said Baron.
The 23 students will go to Székesfehérvár with Rector Singer-Luschka and Vice-Rector Claudia Kilgus. They will visit Lake Balaton and the capital Budapest.
The students will be accommodated in host families. In return, the students from Székefehérvár will live with the German families in Gmünd.
City councilors Hannes Barth (CDU) and Thomas Krieg (The Greens) attended the reception as well as Clemens Weller and
Dr. Dirk Schmidt from the town twinning association. "We are Europe," Weller told the students, adding "You can feel that when you do something together."
Beata Schneider, Irene Lehota and Éva Vanya-Korodi, three teachers from Székesfehérvár currently visiting Schwäbisch Gmünd preparing a student exchange with the Adalbert Stifter Realschule.
At the festive reception at the town hall, there was also a warm encounter with the town twinning partnership with Dr. Dirk Schmidt and Clemens Weller and a joint selfie. Maybe there will be a reunion at the VSP upcoming visit to Székesfehérvár, Hungary in August?
20/02/23A 180-kg-animal at Josefsbach in Gmünd
GMÜNDER TAGESPOST 10.2.2023
Present from Barnsley: Gmünd Oberbürgermeister Richard Arnold (front right) with his counterpart Sarah Tattersall from Barnsley (left) and Alan Brentnall Chair of Barnsley Scwäbisch Gmünd Partnership centre rear) unveiling the Lion. © HOJ
Author:
Bernd Müller.
Gmünd has now got a stone Lion - a present from our English Twin Town.
Schwäbisch Gmünd - The town with the Unicorn now boasts a Lion: 180 kilograms in weight, made from British limestone. The sculpture is a present from our Twin Town Barnsley, the longest twinning partnership for Gmünd which is now 50 years old.
"It's a symbol of strength and courage", said Alan Brentnall, Chair of the English Twin Town Society, during the unveiling of the Lion on Friday morning.
The stone sculpture is positioned in Grabenallee in front of "Barnsley Garden" and next to the English red phone box.
Alan Brentnall remembers that it took courage to extend an invitation to a group of young people from Germany to their town almost 70 years ago. "The Lion represents the strength of our friendship", said Oberbürgermeister Richard Arnold after he had welcomed his Barnsley counterpart Sarah Tattersall.
It also took courage and perseverance to transport the weighty present to Gmünd. “You won’t believe the reams of paperwork which were necessary to export the Lion”, said Alan Brentnall. On top of everything else, the Lion was too large for a normal palette shipment which made transport even more expensive.
But now it’s done, and Alan Brentnall, together with his wife Karin, stand on the shores of the Josefsbach next to the Lion and proudly displays a “50 Years” pin badge with the crests of Gmünd and Barnsley on his lapel and the “Silbermännle” badge round his neck. During a visit to the European Staufer Days last year Alan presented the gift symbolically as a picture. This weekend, on the occasion of the Guggen Music Festival, the Lion is there for real.
“He looks great,”said a women who witnessed the unveiling. The Lion looks “nice and friendly” in Alan’s opinion, and he explains that from the 12th century onwards the lion has been a symbol for England - today the three lions are best known from the football shirts of the English National men’s and women’s teams.
The EU partnership between Germany and Great Britain has come and gone but the good relationship between Gmünd and Barnsley will continue. “50 years ago, when we founded the partnership, England wasn’t part of the European Economic Community,” says OB Richard Arnold. In between it was a member for nearly five decades but not now any more. “Somehow we are back where we started,” remarks Richard Arnold.
Ideal seating area for children
But all this will not be detrimental to the good relationship between the two towns and their citizens. Alan Brentnall reads out a greeting from Barnsley Town Council Leader Sir Steve Houghton CBE and Alan invites everyone in Gmünd aged 1 to 101 to sit on the Lion, especially as the height of the sculpture is ideal for children. “We are very proud and will be working on giving the Lion a name,” says Christoph Bertenrath of Verein Städtepartnerschaft.
Gmünder Tagespost 10.2.2023
OB Richard Arnold (fourth from right) and Sarah Tattersall from Barnsley (second from left)
with officials of the Twin Town Societies. © HOJ
REMS ZEITUNG FRIDAY FEBRUARY 10, 2023
Courtesy of FRANZ GRASER
To mark the 50th anniversary of the town twinning between Schwäbisch Gmünd and Barnsley in England, a stone Lion, a gift from the “Barnsley Schwäbisch Gmünd Twin Town Society”, was unveiled on Friday morning. Barnsley Mayor Sarah Tattersall, Oberbürgermeister Richard Arnold and Chair of Twin Town Partnership Alan Brentnall unveiled the Lion.
The town twinning has existed since 1971 but due to Covid the 50th anniversary could only be celebrated in 2022. On this occasion, Barnsley Mayor Sarah Tattersall and Gmünd OB Richard Arnold signed a declaration to renew and strengthen the friendship between the towns.
Alan Brentnall, chairman of the Barnsley Schwäbisch Gmünd Twin Town Society mentioned the importance of the lion as a heraldic animal in his humorous speech.
The lion represents strength, courage and friendship. It adorned the coat of arms of the English King Richard the Lionheart and today is the sign of the English national football teams, for both men and women.
Alan Brentnall said the lion positioning next to the red English phone box, which now serves as a small library, was a good choice. If anyone thinks they can nick a book, they’ll think twice when they look at the lion.
He then invited everyone aged from 1 to 101 years old to sit on the Lion and proceeded to do just that after the unveiling.
Oberbürgermeister Richard Arnold paid tribute to the friendship between Gmünd and Barnsley. This partnership is particularly important to him because he first went to Barnsley with the Michaels Choir Boys in the 1960s. This journey, during which he crossed the English Channel for the first time, left a deep impression on him, Arnold said.
A special thank you goes to Dagi Glasenapp who has been tending the Barnsley Garden on a voluntary basis for many years.
01/02/23
Fasching, or Fastnet, could you stand the pace?
On February 11th and 12th, 20 Guggen bands with around 800 musicians from Switzerland, the Principality of Liechtenstein, Austria and Germany will come to the oldest Staufer town, also called the Mecca of Guggen music for good reason.
The unofficial start of this event takes place on Friday evening with the Guggenball of local Guggen band Gmendr Gassfetza in the Prediger. In addition to performances by Guggen bands, the party band "No Exit" ensures the best atmosphere.
Party Band "No Exit" ensures the best atmosphere
Guggenband “Los Krawallos”
will be there again
The interest of Guggen bands to perform in Schwäbisch Gmünd is still strong. At the 38th International Guggen Music Meeting there are bands to be seen and heard that have not been guests in Schwäbisch Gmünd for a long time.
The Guggenmusik ensemble “Los Krawallos” around 50 musicians - around half of them people with disabilities will be there again on Saturday.
Year after year, this spectacle attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over Germany and beyond to the historic old town of Gmünd. The squares and alleys, but above all the bars in the city centre form the framework for what has now become an integral part of the city's calendar of events.
The festival of weird tones begins on Saturday with a special feature that has already become a favourite. The procession starts at 11 a.m. with the fool's tree at Bockstorplatz. Children are cordially invited to accompany two Guggen music bands to take the fool's tree to the market square, which will then be erected by the "Rudos" mask group with the active help of the Wetzgau fire brigade.
The official reception by the city of Schwäbisch Gmünd begins at 12.15 p.m. on the stage in front of the Marienbrunnen on the upper market square.
First mayor Christian Baron and event manager Robert Frank will welcome the participating Guggen bands together with the jesters of the court. After this Guggen bands will perform on the stage on Johannisplatz and in the Gerberplatz area on Ledergasse. Families with small children also have the opportunity to experience the Guggen musicians with their colourful and imaginative costumes up close during the day.
The physical well-being of visitors is also well catered for.
Not only the bars in the centre of Gmünd, but also numerous locations associated with the Fasnet working group have stocked up so that the supply of guests with food and drink does not come to a standstill. From 6 p.m. on the Upper Market Square, the monster concerts take place on Johannisplatz and in Ledergasse on Gerberplatz.
This night of nights continues with a leisurely stroll through the bars in the city centre. At this point you'll probably need to keep telling yourself that it's the taking part that counts!
On Sunday, the sports hall in Katharinenstrasse will be the arena for the Guggen Festival.
The Guggenmusik morning pint starts at 11 a.m., - hair of the dog - which experience has shown lasts until late in the afternoon, there Guggen fans can experience it all again - oh dear!
But visitors at this year's Guggenmusik festival will have to work too, and once again have a special task.
As judge and jury, you can choose the band with the best sound, the most beautiful costume and the greatest mood maker.
The program flyer, which also contains the voting card, is available at all catering stands. Simply enter the number of the band that you like best in the appropriate section, add your address and put it in one of the voting boxes at the hospitality stands at the Oberer Marktplatz or Johannisplatz stages.
The awards ceremony and prize-giving to the Guggen bands takes place during the morning pint.
All people who took part in the voting are entered into a raffle. You can win three limited-edition Guggen guest gifts designed by the Gmünd ceramic artist Christine Petraschke.
Anyone who enjoys a carnival with weird, mad music, colourful and imaginative costumes and can 'stay the pace', should not miss this spectacle and go to Schwäbisch Gmünd on February 11th and 12th for the International Guggenmusik Festival.
24/01/23
The Carnival of International Guggenmusik is back !
Frumptarn Guggen Band during our 50th Anniversary celebrations in Barnsley
The International Guggenmusik Festival held annually in Schwabisch Gmund will resume on 11th to 12th February 2023 after a pause due to Covid. Sixteen society members, friends and Frumptarn members will travel to be part of the "mad music" weekend, a name that it has been given by some Gmundians. Unfortunately, Barnsley's Frumptarn Guggen Band will not be taking part due to invitations to all the bands at the last cancelled festival taking precedence.
What is Gugge or Guggen music?
First explicitly mentioned in 16th century A.D., this type of music has its origins in the folk custom of chasing away the 'spirits of winter' by blowing cows' horns. To this end, the music of the carnival season also needed to be sufficiently loud, weird, and frightening. Rattles, tin pails, drums, cow bells, or whistles came into use. Imaginative masks and costumes to frighten away the spirits of winter were initially fashioned out of towels and old rags.
Guggenmusik is played during Fasnacht, the Swabian-Alemannic carnival season. The most common explanation of the word "Gugge" is that it may derive from the "Sack/Tüte", meaning "bag". Other unsourced explanations include the word used for a small children's trumpet, a (Swiss German) word for "scream", or the cuckoo's call.
Guggenmusik takes centre stage at carnivals
A "Guggemusik" band thus refers to a group of people playing loud music and typically wearing costumes and masks in a uniform style. It is a strongly rhythmic music of distinctive style played with brass instruments, pipes and drums. Although melodies remain clearly recognizable, they are at times played "off-key", intentionally and often quite skillfully. Driven by a dominant rhythm section, the music sounds twisted and thrilling, very danceable and perfect for spontaneous street concerts during the "wild days" of Carnival.
Today there are many types of Guggenmusik to inspire carnival celebrants. Bands usually play well-known pop songs but also folk tunes and children's music. Originally associated with winter carnivals, Guggenmusik has evolved, taken on its own identity and become a focal point of carnivals with bands taking centre stage and performing well polished ‘concerts’ for their audiences.
At present, the world's largest "international Guggenmusik" gathering is a two-day event held annually in Schwäbisch Gmünd, Germany, bringing together bands from Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein, Great Britain, and Switzerland, and attracting 60,000 to 100,000 visitors.
15/12/22
Festive Greeting to our friends!
14/11/22
Nations fall silent on Remembrance Day
Across the world Remembrance Day is a memorial day observed since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. Member states of the Commonwealth of Nations adopted Remembrance Day, while the US chose Veterans Day.
Following a tradition inaugurated by King George V in 1919, the day is also marked by war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth countries. In most countries, Remembrance Day is observed on 11 November to recall the end of First World War hostilities. Hostilities formally ended "at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month" of 1918.
A two-minute silence was held across the UK on Friday to mark Armistice Day.
On Remembrance Sunday (the closest Sunday to 11th November) all around the UK people gathered at the local cenotaph in their cities and villages to pay respect.
In Barnsley a large crowd gathered, The Mayor led the Civic Remembrance Sunday commemorations at 11am outside the
Town Hall at the War Memorial, joined by Sir Steve Houghton, Dan Jarvis and other civic dignitaries. Students from Barnsley College, read a poem, and several local schools laid wreaths and artwork.
Barnsley Schwäbisch Gmünd Society were represented by Honorary President Mr Keith Jowett together with
Secretary Mr Philip Coppard, laying a wreath on behalf of the society.
In London, King Charles III led a ceremony and laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in front of other royals and senior politicians.
This year's commemorations to remember the war dead involved the recently restored Big Ben striking 11 times.
Approximately 10,000 Royal British Legion veterans, representing 300 different Armed Forces and civilian organisations, took part in the March Past; they were joined by an estimated 10,000 members of the public who lined Whitehall to watch the service.
Among those marching was 100-year-old Second World War veterans and those who served in recent conflicts including in Afghanistan. 400 members of the South Atlantic Medal Association marched past the Cenotaph to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War. They were also joined by bereaved family members with the youngest marcher aged eight years old.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "This year more than ever, we are reminded of the huge debt of gratitude we owe those who lay down their lives to protect their country."
The German national day of mourning is the secular public holiday of Volkstrauertag, which since 1952 has been observed two Sundays before the first Sunday of Advent, in practice this is the Sunday closest to 16 November. The anniversary of the Armistice itself is not observed in Germany.
10/11/22
Early Youth Exchange Reunion sparks an appeal
L to R Karin Brentnall - Co-Chair BSGTTS – Dorothy Hayward – Linda Stott – Mayor Sarah Tattersall - Alan Brentnall – Co-Chair
Seated : Valerie Barker – Margaret Tattersall – Consort Ethan Tattersall
Barnsley and twin town Schwäbisch Gmünd are celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the twinning agreement this year (postponed 1 year due to Covid).
During the festivities held here in Barnsley and in Germany, Barnsley Mayor Sarah Tattersall for St. Helens Ward revealed that she had previously visited Schwäbisch Gmünd as a child, taken there by her mother Margaret as part of a youth exchange programme in the early 80's.
Members of Barnsley Schwäbisch Gmünd Society Dorothy Hayward and Linda Stott remembered the visit well as they both took part in the same exchange, Linda also as a child and Dorothy as a parent.
Long standing member Valerie Barker and former Barnsley Youth Services Officer responsible for organising the early youth exchanges was thrilled to join the reunion at the Mayor's request.
Her contact with Margaret Tattersall has remained constant throughout the many years.
Member Linda Stott found the actual programme from the visit amongst photos at home and along with other memorabilia brought together, ignited many happy memories.
The actual programme of the early exchange and
some of Mayor Sarah Tattersall's childhood toys
brought back from the visit to Gmünd
These included a Smurf manufactured in Gmünd, the character that brought the Schleich company to the world’s attention.
There must be many other Barnsley people who took part in the early youth exchanges or visits via schools, youth clubs or sports clubs, if so, we would love to hear from you.
Please contact Barnsley Schwäbisch Gmünd Society:
Email: bsgtts@gmail.com
Tel: Secretary: Phil Coppard 01709 812187
16/09/22 In happier times – When Elisabeth met Elizabeth: Mayor's wife and Queen
Elisabeth Schoch (84) still has many photos of her meeting with the Queen, as well as her hat which she had
specially made for the visit to Barnsley.
29. July 1975: Elisabeth and Oberbürgermeister Norbert Schoch from Schwäbisch Gmünd are presented to the Queen
in Barnsley.
Queen Elizabeth II and Elisabeth Schoch came face to face during the visit to Barnsley.
Elisabeth Schoch the wife of the Schwäbisch Gmünd Oberbürgermeister Norbert Schoch had the honour to meet the Queen and Prince Philip in Barnsley when a new shopping Centre was opened in 1975.
This week, Rudolf Böhmler, Former Permanent Secretary of Baden-Württemberg, and the widow of Dr. Norbert Schoch met and recalled cordial moments with sadness, gratitude and with and a measure of serenity.
09/09/22
Barnsley, the English twin town of Gmünd, mourns the death of the Queen
Courtesy of GERALD BAUER & Rems Zeitung
THURSDAY 08 SEPTEMBER 2022
Schwäbisch Gmünd's English twin town, Barnsley, mourns the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away on Thursday.
As head of state, the monarch has visited the old mining town several times. There are film recordings of these visits, which can be found on the Internet platform Youtube under the keyword "Queen visits Barnsley".
In 1971 the official partnership between Barnsley and Schwäbisch Gmünd was sealed. The 50th anniversary of the partnership was celebrated this summer with a big open-air festival in the city garden in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
In addition to official encounters, many private friendships developed over decades. This direct and personal international exchange of people from the twin towns is the major concern of the Gmünd partnership association.
Barnsley is in South Yorkshire. Since the first half of the 1970s, Barnsley has been a "metropolitan borough" with 231,000 inhabitants (2011).
In 1086 'Berneslai' was first mentioned in the Domesday Book and in 1249 it was granted market rights by King Henry III. From the Middle Ages until 1993, Barnsley lived mainly from coal mining. Due to the structural change in mining, Barnsley had to initiate the transformation process years ago and create jobs in other areas.
In accordance with English local law, part of the council is elected for three years in a row. The highest representative of the city, the mayor, is elected from among the council (municipal council) for one year. The city government is headed by the Chief Executive.
On the occasion of the death of the English Queen, the Friday edition of the Rems-Zeitung reported extensively on Queern Elizabeth II, who enjoyed an absolutely special position among the reigning monarchs in Europe and who impressed many people around the world with her extraordinary biography.
BSGTTS join with our twin town friends around the world in mourning the passing of a very unique and special lady,
Queen Elizabeth II, rest in peace your Majesty and Thank you for everything.
22/07/22
Common values shared over 1200 years
Author: Bernd Müller
Courtesy of Gmünder Tagespost
Festive service in the Münster as final event of the European Staufer Days – The Saga, The Town Twinnings and our Youth, all to be carried on in the future.
Festive service in the Münster as
final event of the
European Staufer DaysNot a word has been spoken yet but the flags already show what this festive service will be about, - about the Staufer dynasty, about Europe and about six towns who want to be connected with each other. It will be about common values.
This week we saw how hundreds of actors in the play "Moments of the Staufersaga" represented just that, with their stories, with fantastic images, with their cooperation and teamwork:
After the service Gundi Mertens, deputy chair of the Staufersaga Society, put it like this: The best thing of all had been "to achieve things together, as friends, to build cohesion".
This ecumenical church service in the Münster on Sunday morning with all its participants strongly emphasises the common values of this community which spans different eras, borders and languages.
Konrad Sorg in the robes of Emperor Barbarossa reminds us of the "values of chivalry". Sarah Gros NF, representing his wife Beatrix, says: "We want to build a house in which peoples can live in peace. This house is our Europe."
Zeynel Alkis, dressed as the Arabic scholar Ibn Zafar, underlines the diversity of all people on earth who, after all, are all human: "In all our differences we are all the same".
This is a clear message, and not only because of the European flag displayed in the Münster: We belong together, and we are happy to be enriched by the integration of other people and their culture: For example when listening to the gospel singer
Janine Dyer from Barnsley whose lovely solo voice filled the Münster twice during the service.
Kloker calls himself a "hobby historian" and reminds us that kingship in the Middle Ages was often not a despotic rule from the top but a "consensual rule." Protestant Dean Ursula Richter speaks against things which divide us, like fences and boundaries.
"Togetherness in diversity" (Richter) is also evident in the hymns sung this morning, each verse in a different language: German, English, Italian, French. Only Hungarian is missing, perhaps because it was recognised, as Dean Ursula Richter admits during her welcome words to all people who attended the service, that "Hungarian is the most difficult of them all..."
A Week Of Lasting Effect
After the Service the flag wavers from Faenza show their skills in front of the Münster, and the royal couple Konrad Sorg and Sarah Gros NF willingly pose for keepsake photos. "How do I address you: Your Majesty?" one women asks. How many times have they had to pose for photographs so far? "I stopped counting after ten", says Konrad Sorg.
Amongst glasses of sparkling wine, words of thanks and many conversations Oberbürgermeister Richard Arnold sums up the important points once again: "Togetherness doesn't appear from nowhere, it is something we have to achieve ourselves.
We very much need it for the future."
........ and what about the future? Will this Staufer week have a lasting effect?
According to Richard Arnold it will. He says that he cares about young people in particular. "175 years of partnership – that sounds ancient, for this reason it was so important to get young people involved, for example during the sports tournaments between teams from the twin towns."
20/07/22
"There must never be another fence like this!"
As part of the the town twinning celebrations 'Service in the Münster' in Schwäbisch Gmünd, we heard two sermons delivered in German, the second sermon about Europe and Values, by Dean Ursula Richter from the Evangelical Church in Württemberg has now been translated into English and is shown below, well worth a read.
Dean Ursula Richter
Evangelical Church in Württemberg.
Dear friends, Europeans, people from all over the world, dear sisters and brothers. "There must never be another fence like this."
During a recent event older people were reminded of the Second World War when Switzerland and National Socialist Germany erected a border fortification which proved particularly disastrous for Jewish refugees, and many were also reminded of the border, the wall which ran through the middle of Germany: The event bringing on such memories was that in March 2020 between Constance in Germany and the adjoining town of Kreuzlingen just over the Swiss border, a fence was installed to contain the pandemic.
It was twice reinforced at later stages. Even lovers could no longer come together.
To the applause of several hundred people, the border fence was dismantled again in May of this year. Today this fence has been placed as a contemporary record in the House of History Museum – as a reminder not only of Corona (we are not through yet) but of the basic values of freedom of movement, coming together and of the common European idea.
It is good that we are so touchy when it comes to barriers like this, after all, the peace project Europe came into being because following the devastating World Wars people started reaching out to one another for peace and reconciliation, churches approached their counterparts in other countries and encounters, exchanges and partnerships were stimulated on many levels, and are still going on as we see today in this church.
Looking at the 175 years of town twinning we celebrate today, it is good to experience togetherness in the diversity of music, culture and character. Let us never lose sight of the fact that diversity, not uniformity, is our greatest wealth. After all, God created such a diverse world.
We owe great respect to the politicians who after the terrible experiences of the wars in Europe strove for new beginnings between their peoples, based on peace and togetherness,and we also respect all those who today promote unity and peace in the face of Europe's great challenges, even beyond the EU.
"Seek peace and pursue it." reads Psalm 34. The origins of European values are essentially shaped by the Judeo-Christian religion and also by impulses from Islam which for centuries was more open to the world than the Church. But there are always people who oppose values like freedom and equality of all people, tolerance and participation.
We can all feel this opposition, in terrorism of all kinds and the current atrocities in Ukraine. In stoking fears and distorting the truth. We all know how devastating and destructive this is in everyday life, on the internet and in our streets. Nationalistic and autocratic currents are gaining strength, and sealing ourselves off from the outside world appears to be the answer.
"There must never be another fence like this!" Yes, this much is true. How fantastic is it to be welcome and at home in Antibes, Faenza, Székesfehérvár and, despite Brexit, in Barnsley, and even across the Atlantic in American Bethlehem – just as we welcome you as our guests here.
But what about the borders to the outside world? What about the people who flee to us across dangerous routes like the Mediterranean or overland because they have no livelihood, flee from war zones, are displaced, are starving?
Churches and humanitarian organisations are working hard to ensure that Europe does not become a bastion. To achieve this, we apply the principles of our tradition and religion. For example, Jesus' parable of the rich man and the poor Lazarus who suffers at his door. In the eyes of God, this behaviour is intolerable.
Intolerable from a point of view of humanity. God himself became man in Jesus Christ, and He calls upon us to act as fellow human beings. St. Elisabeth, St. Martin: these are not just folk tales. Jesus is serious: he who has two coats, give to him who has none. Peace needs justice.
This also applies to our common house of Europe. Putin's attack on freedom and democracy makes us more aware of our common values – and, if necessary, we must defend these values with prudence and wisdom. It is good to see that Europe is taking in refugees from Ukraine. Our house has open doors. But are there refugees – people, after all – of first and second class? For years Gmünd has rejected this way of thinking. And many others in Europe did the same.
In Africa I heard a wise proverb: "I am because you are, and you are because I am." We are all different, and yet like one body. In Europe, in the world, as churches and religions. I am because you are and you are because I am.
For to Him and through Him are we all. This is what I believe. Therefore I say: "There must never be another fence like this."
I conclude with the Jewish Talmud. One question in the Talmud is: "When does the night end and when does the day begin? When you recognise your hand in front of your face? When you can distinguish a tree on the horizon? The night ends and the day begins when in the face of another human being you recognise your brother and your sister".
May our values in Europe at all times be measured against these words. Amen.
16/07/22
Worsbrough Bridge AFC guests in Gmünd
Courtesy of Rems Zeitung, - Schwäbisch Gmünd - Saturday 9th July
Successful start of a new football three-way friendship in Bargau
The active footballers and managers of FC Normannia Gmünd and FC Germania Bargau met in Bargau with the footballers of Worsbrough AFC, an English club from Gmünd's twin town Barnsley, for the kick-off event of their new partnership.
At the end of May, a Gmünd delegation visited Barnsley for the launch of this new football partnership. Now the return visit follows, as the twinning weekend was scheduled in Gmünd.
On Saturday the first match will be played between the three clubs at 1pm at the Normannia stadium. Players from Normannia and Bargau will meet the footballers from Barnsley for a friendly.
The final game ended in a fair draw, which is why a penalty shoot-out followed. There is probably no need to say anything about the outcome of a penalty shoot-out between Germany and England, however, everyone agreed that it was a very high-level training session that was great fun.
The officials used the time during the training to present their clubs, compare their structures and discuss the differences between the two football systems. The absolute highlight though, was the third half, during which German and English popular songs were sung.
A visit to England is already planned for the 100th anniversary of Worsbrough AFC next year.
"European Staufer Days" with integrated anniversary promises to be a spectacular
The "European Staufer Days" festival from 6th to 10th July with an integrated anniversary evening on July 8th promises to be another spectacular !
This festival is a time for the city people to come together again, Oberbürgermeister Richard Arnold invites all citizens in and around Schwäbisch Gmünd to the newly written open-air theatre piece "Moments of the Staufer saga - a magical journey through time" in the Remspark.
Carmen Bäuml has the task of bringing the 538 participants together for rehearsals and the dress rehearsal. She also manages the
700 volunteers who are assigned in front of and behind the stage to ensure that everything runs smoothly, it will be once again, a massive production.
The audience will be whisked away into the past and back into the future. Many children will be involved. You can look forward to well-known scenes from the Staufer Saga performances in 2012/2016.
A highlight of the festival week in Schwäbisch Gmünd will be the town twinning anniversaries on Friday, July 8th with all the twin towns.
Barnsley, Great Britain, has existed for 50 years,
Antibes, France, has existed for 45 years,
Székesfehérvár, Hungary, has existed for 30 years.
Bethlehem, USA, has existed for 30 years,
Faenza, Italy, has existed for 20 years
Some of the delegations will take part in the play and there is a varied program in the city centre and in the Remspark.
"European Staufer Days" festival Programme
Wednesday, July 6
8 p.m. - Premiere "Moments of the Staufer saga - an enchanting journey through time" in the Remspark
Thursday, July 7
8 p.m. - "Moments of the Staufer saga - an enchanting journey through time" in the Remspark
Friday, July 8
6:30 p.m - Town twinning anniversary evening in the Remspark
9 p.m. - "BESAR" - rock & blues band from Barnsley in the Remspark
Saturday, July 9th
The hockey clubs from Antibes and Schwäbisch Gmünd celebrate 101 years of friendship, the football clubs from Barnsley and Schwäbisch Gmünd start a football friendship,
the swimmers from Hungary, the gymnasts from Antibes and other Athletes from Faenza
meet their opponents from Schwäbisch Gmünd
2 p.m. - Sports Olympics on the football field of FC Normannia Gmünd
4 p.m. - hockey field, gymnastics and fencing in the large sports hall
and swimming in the indoor pool
8 p.m. - "Moments of the Staufer saga - an enchanting journey through time" in the Remspark
Sunday July 10th
10.30 a.m. - Ecumenical service in the Heilig-Kreuz-Münster
8 p.m. - Dernière "Moments of the Staufer saga - a magical journey through time"
with sign language interpreter, in the Remspark
Anniversary evening on Friday, July 8, in the Remspark
From Antibes, jazz musicians from the Conservatoire de Musique will play.
There's a gospel singer from Barnsley singing.
A new piece to confirm friendship was written from Bethlehem especially for the anniversary,
which is being rehearsed and
premiered by the music school in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
From Székesfehérvár comes a 35-person folk dance group with music.
Flag-wavers from Faenza will show their art of flag-waving not for the first time.
After the anniversary celebration, the rock & blues band from Barnsley "BESAR" will play on the same stage.
A little introduction to our favourite little band from Barnsley - https://fb.watch/eu8a8YnbHO/
50th Anniversary celebrations - three days full of welcome, new friendships and new impressions.
Three days full of welcome, new friendships and new impressions – this is how the delegates from Gmünd town council sum up their trip to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the town twinning between Barnsley and Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Oberbürgermeister Richard Arnold was accompanied by Brigitte Abele, Dorothea Feuerle, Brigitte Weiß and Uwe Beck, representatives of Schwäbisch Gmünd town council and Anna Klamann from the cultural office.
Barnsley welcomed friends from our twin town in southern Germany to celebrate together, a year late due to Covid restrictions, the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the twinning agreement.
There were a number of speeches expressing the importance of the friendship between the two towns.
Mayor Sarah Tattersall recalled being placed with a family as an eight-year-old girl visiting Schwäbisch Gmünd for the first time.
"It was a wonderful experience that I will cherish forever" said the mayor, adding that she was looking forward to renewing and deepening the partnership with Schwäbisch Gmünd.
She will be very happy to go to Schwäbisch Gmünd in July.
Oberbürgermeister Richard Arnold expressed his thanks for the invitation to the jubilee celebrations in Barnsley. In view of the political situation, "our friendship is more important than ever!" said Mayor Arnold.
He also fondly remembers his first visit to Barnsley as a ten-year-old boy, when the choir was on a concert tour of southern England. He invited his counterpart as well as other members of the town council for a return visit to Schwäbisch Gmünd and emphasised: "The good thing about this partnership is that we can learn from each other and work together!"
Both mayors reaffirmed the friendship of the two cities, signing a new agreement that acknowledges past cooperation and calls for a deeper partnership in the future.
The 50th anniversary of the Town Twinning between Barnsley and Schwäbisch Gmünd was celebrated in a big way in England and the management of FC Normannia Gmünd took this occasion to promote the relationship between the two towns with a new partnership in the field of sports.
A further participant of this cooperation is FC Bargau who due to other club activities was unable to participate in Barnsley.
Worsbrough Bridge AFC in Barnsley, FC Normannia and FC Bargau from Schwäbisch Gmünd look forward to a possible three way partnership, learning and cooperating from each others planning, training and development methods including encouraging youth activities for the mutual benefit of all clubs.
During the jubilee celebrations Normannia representative Christoph Kunze had the opportunity to exchange football shirts with his colleagues from the English partner club.
Plans for the future have already begun. In July the clubs will meet on the pitch in Schwäbisch Gmünd.
Joint training sessions are planned for the footballers from Worsbrough Bridge AFC leading up to a ceremonial match which will take place on Saturday July 9th in Gmünd against players from FC Normannia and FC Bargau.
To mark this occasion, we believe the Mayors from Barnsley and Gmünd will perform the first 'kickoff ' .....and then presumeably quickly run to escape the advancing opposing team members!
A further shirt exchange between the guests from Barnsley and FC Bargau will also take place.
“We are very much looking forward to get to know our counterparts during their trip to Gmünd. This could be the start to a much closer cooperation” says Marco Biegert, committee member with responsibility for football at FC Normannia.
Plans for a return match in Barnsley, a major highlight of Worsbrough AFC centenary year celebrations in 2023 is planned. Twinning in action ....today!
24/05/22
"Searching for Unicorns in Schwäbisch Gmünd"
Well, we have them......here in Barnsley........so visit the Barnsley Schwäbisch Gmünd stall in Barnsley town centre on Saturday 28th May if you want to see Unicorns, but only young people can see them !
Searching for Unicorns?
17/05/22"Are there any 'real' Unicorns?"
Barnsley Schwäbisch Gmünd Society along with guests from our twin town in Germany claim to have the secret to finding Unicorns.
"According to medieval legend only young people can find unicorns, so it is on this group that we have to focus if we want to spot them." says Alan Brentnall, Chairman of the society.
“Unicorns can turn up in places you might least expect them to and many times they will exhibit twinning, spot one and you will see another.”
“Si - Gmund the Unicorn, one of the fantastical beasts, has special powers to attract them, they are everywhere” Alan says, “but only young people will see them if they visit our stand in Barnsley town centre on Saturday 28th May.”
Barnsley will welcome friends from our twin town in southern Germany to celebrate together in Barnsley, a year late due to Covid restrictions, the 50th Anniversary of the signing of the twinning agreement.
The unicorn has been the town’s heraldic animal since 1277.
Plans to showcase the new town centre, the unveiling of our town twinning exhibition in Experience Barnsley Museum and a chance to “Meet the Public” are amongst a full programme of events during the weekend visit.
19/04/22"Program 50th Anniversary celebrations in Barnsley"
Our programme for the 50th Anniversary celebrations of the official signing of the twinning partnership agreement
between Barnsley and Schwäbisch Gmünd
to be held In Barnsley May 27th to 29th 2022 (delayed 1 year due to Covid)
We look forward to welcoming our guests from Schwäbisch Gmünd in Barnsley!
"Gmünd & Barnsley Twin Town Societies stand together in condemnation of the act of aggression"
Barnsley Schwäbisch Gmünd Twin Town Society wish to echo and endorse the public statement below by our friends in Gmünd. We stand together in solidarity of the condemnation of the act of aggression by Russia and support the promotion of all the values of town twinning and friendships by personal relations in pursuit of world peace.
"The Schwäbisch Gmünd Twin Town Society is stunned by Russia's unprecedented breach of diplomacy, law and humanity on the territory of the sovereign state of Ukraine.
Photo by Oleg Petrasiuk
Town twinning, worldwide, is a result of reconciliation after the horrors of the Second World War and considers world peace, strengthened by personal relations, as an "indispensable condition in a scientific and technical world" (German physicist and philosopher C. F. Weizsäcker, 1964).
The attack on Ukraine also affects the people of Gorlovka (Horliwka), in the Ukrainian Donbass region. This town with its 300,000 inhabitants has been twinned with Gmünd's twin town Barnsley since 1987."
Phil Coppard, former Barnsley Chief Executive, told the Gmünd Association that recent events were a "tragedy on a tragedy" as from 2014 onwards a number of his twinning contacts in Gorlovka have been arrested, killed or forced to flee. This, eight years ago, was the first tragedy.
Both Twin Town Societies express their unwavering condemnation of these events and solidarity with the suffering people, regardless of their language or nation.
"50th anniversary - Seeking Jubilee children born in 1971"
