A group of Bromley residents and members of the Bromley Town Twinning Association filled a coach in their exchange visit and stay in the Rhineland town of Neuwied, Germany.

The Neuwied town mayor and their town twinning counterparts held a welcome reception for us in the town’s museum where two Bromley residents Lynne and David Noble were given the local Shield of Honour. This is quite unique and following many years of civic and festival links which have now existed for 26 years between our two towns.

Our Bromley Town Twinning Association’s gift to Neuwied was equally unique, this being a full size road sign stating “Bromley 641km”. So getting back from the wine country in Germany to our borough has been made that bit easier. How many other English road signs exist with the distance in kilometres?

The weekend also comprised a sit down lunch and a most generous produce-sampling at a distillery, a visit to the fairy-tale Cochem castle overlooking the deep Moselle river valley and a superb evening meal at the best restaurant in town. Our accompanying tennis group also won their friendly matches with their Neuwied counterparts. Next summer 2015 will hopefully see a return stay in Bromley by our continental hosts.

Anyone with even a passing interest in good German food, wines, castles and friendship is invited to check us out at: www.bromleytowntwinning.co.uk

Based on information supplied by Joe Weiss.