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Twin Town Visitors

TOWN TWINNING – BOCHOLT

Would you like to visit Bocholt, our German twin town and find out about everyday life in Germany? Or would you like to play host to visitors from Bocholt and help them get to know life in Britain?

Rossendale’s town twinning with Bocholt, Germany started in 1952 with the signing of an official 'Friendship Agreement’ and the first visit was made by a youth group from Bocholt. Forty years ago this year The Friends of Bocholt (FoB) was created to act as a point of contact to help arrange visits between groups, families, and individuals in the two towns and over that time many long-lasting friendships have been formed.

Instead of the usual tourist holiday, staying with a family allows us to find out about real life in Germany – and make new friends. There is an equivalent group in Bocholt – the Deutsche-Britische Gesellschaft, or German-British Society (GBS) – and in alternate years group visits take place to Bocholt or to Rossendale. This October (Thursday 5th to Monday 9th) the GBS will be visiting Rossendale.

Many of the group already have host families, but some are new visitors to Rossendale and hosts are needed to give them a warm Valley welcome. There is no need to speak German as most of our visitors speak good English! Some trips as a group will be arranged but time is also free for you to show your visitors the sights of the Valley and surrounding areas.

Our guests range in age from children in family groups to teenagers and young people travelling alone, and older residents of Bocholt wanting to find out about English life.

If you want to know more about the October visit, or about Friends of Bocholt and its other activities, please contact Peter and Ros Bill of Friends of Bocholt: pbill1944@aol.com phone: 07742 079 266