VISITORS from Wesseling in Germany were in West Devon last week, as part of the bi-annual twinning visit.
During their week-long stay, the party of 28 German guests visited Brentor and Princetown, the Eden Project, Truro and Dartmouth. The Germans have been staying with hosts in Bere Alston, Tavistock, Mary Tavy, Lydford and Okehampton.
On their last full day in West Devon before heading home early last Friday, the group met town crier Bob Rose and were given an official reception by the mayor of West Devon Richard Phillips.
Plans are already being made for the return visit by the Tavistock branch to Wesseling next May — next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the twinning club.
Addy Lauer, chair of Club Wesseling, was making his sixth visit to West Devon. 'Everyone has had a good time, we have made some new friends and met many old ones,' he said.
Many visitors were attracted to West Devon to come and see the 'wonderful countryside', he added. Wesseling is an industrial town situated on the banks of the River Rhine, between Bonn and Cologne.
Mr Lauer said he particularly enjoyed hearing a local jazz band giving an evening performance in Bere Alston community hall, and he hoped there would be a musical element to the West Devon members' visit to Germany, with a choir singing for the visitors.
Mr Lauer said the twinning club had its roots in a night school class in Germany whose members had wanted a chance to practise their English.
When the group started 20 years ago, it tended to focus on Tavistock, Okehampton and Bere Alston, but has now expanded to include members across the whole of West Devon.
Mr Lauer said behind the exchange visits was a very important idea — of partnership and working together.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the West Devon twinning club is asked to contact secretary Pete Dennis on 01822 840862.