I wrote yesterday how my ties with Europe are still strong after 60 years. In 1961 I reported the start of the town twinning between Caerphilly and Ludwigsburg. A year later, as Caerphilly council’s public relations officer, I became the twinning organiser. It was the start of the happiest of my roles, with friendships formed then that I cherish today.
The first visit in the partnership was by the Ludwigsburg choir with young Ursula Bergdolt, a former au pair in England, as interpreter.
Ursula - Uschi - became a good friend of Rosemary and me over the years, visiting each other regularly.
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| Bob and son Robert with Werner, Sabine and grandson Lino, December 2019 |
Another of our long lasting friendships began when Werner Bleyhl, a young Tubingen University graduate, was seconded to teach at Pengam grammar school. We invited him to our home and have since made family visits to his Esslingen home in lovely Esslingen, a vineyard at the end of his garden. Werner, distinguished Professor Doctor, retired three years ago.
Today we are in touch regularly by email.
I found Germany’s local government for more efficient than ours. One reason is the system of elected mayors - oberburgermeisters in the cities and burgermeisters in smaller towns and villages.
They ran their councils whatever the political set up. And with eight years the normal term, they have time to shape their council’s future.
Stuttgart’s first oberburgermeister after the war, Dr Klett, was so successful and popular that he ruled for almost 30 years.
On my last visit, accompanying Cardiff’s Lord Mayor and chief executive, he gave us a lavish civic dinner. Britain has finally followed the elected mayor system.
Over recent weeks the emails between Ursula, Werner and me have concentrated on the feverish last minutes attempt to avoid a no deal Brexit. They are relieved that Britain, although out of the EU, is still in many ways a partner.
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