Diessen am Ammersee

Back in the mid 1990's, the late Windermere Parish Councillor, Gillian Hubbard was approached by the then Mayor of Diessen am Ammersee to look at the possibility of the two communities 'twinning.' Under her guidance and leadership a group of interested local people formed the Windermere/Diessen Town Twinning Association. In 1998, the two communities 'twinned' at ceremonies held in both Windermere and Diessen.

Our twin town of Diessen am Ammersee in Bavaria takes great pride in being twinned with Windermere and all visitors from Windermere are treated to superb hospitality. The purpose of twinning is to bring people together, and the groups of both towns embrace that.

The article below has been provided by Sheila Ricketts, the past Chair of the Association, to whom the Chamber acknowledges grateful thanks.

The Market Town of Diessen lies at the south-west end of the Ammersee with the Bavarian Alps as its backdrop. Together with its surrounding villages Diessen has a population of approximately 10,000.

The Ammersee is the third largest lake in Bavaria and offers swimming, sailing, surfing and passenger steam-boats, including the remarkable paddle steamer 'Diessen', built in 1908. Fishing still provides a living for several family businesses.

The most outstanding feature of the Town is the baroque 'Marianmunster' built in the 18th century. This impressive church charms everyone with its wonderful decoration; high altar, ceiling frescoes, stucco work and paintings, all very beautiful. Traditions are still valued and practiced; craftsmen in pottery and pewter, bands, traditional costumes, a Maypole erected in the square depicting every trade and a deep sense of community and belonging. It all makes Diessen an interesting and exciting place to visit. You can even make a call from a red 'English' telephone box! Diessen is also a good place from which to explore Bavaria. The fairytale castles built by King Ludwig II, the Andechs Monastery (where Benedictine Monks brew every shade of beer!), the towns of Landsberg, Ausberg, Oberammergau (of the Passion Play fame) Garmish Partenkirchen and of course the capital Munich, all with a fascinating history as well as being vibrant modern day places.

Above all, the people of Diessen are warm and friendly and know how to give hospitality to visitors from their Twin Town of Windermere, ask anyone who has had the privilege of visiting there.

Windermere’s Town Mayor, Cllr. Leith Hallatsch and his wife, Christine, made an official visit in May to the Bavarian town of Diessen –am-Ammersee to start the celebrations of twenty years of Twinning friendship between the two towns since the inauguration in 1998.

Together with other members of Windermere/Diessen Twinning Association, they enjoyed a programme of events which included visits to places of interest in the surrounding area, including a trip the foothills of the alps which were covered in the snow which greeted them on arrival in Diessen! A colourful local traditional event on May 1st, attended by everyone in traditional dress, was the raising of the ‘May Pole’ in the town square. The wooden pole is decorated in Bavarian blue and white and bears a number of metal cross arms at the top with figures depicting local industries, trades and traditions pertinent to the town. As well as the generous hospitality shown to guests, the celebrations included various occasions enjoying German foods together with traditional musical accompaniment by members of Diessen’s brass ensemble the ‘Blasergruppe’.

Two excellent guided tours of the town, prepared in English by groups of students from the Ammersee Gymnasium grammar school as part of a language study course, presented many interesting facts about the beautiful church and buildings from the top of the town, down to the water front area with its long history of fishing, brewing, and more recently the boats that sail on the Ammersee as part of their visitor attractions.

During a visit to the ‘Rathaus’, Diessen’s Town Hall, the Mayor met up with the ‘Burgermeister’ Herr Kirsch, in the Council Chamber, and presented a framed parchment from Windermere Town Council in ‘Celebration and Commemoration of 20 years of Partnership and Twinning Friendship between the two Communities‘. See photograph above.

DECEMBER - The Advent Sunday event which has been booked once again at the Marchesi Centre on Sunday 6th December from 2.00pmto 4.00pm. The Christmas Story with music provided by the choir from St Martin and St Mary’s Church of England Junior School will feature once again and seasonal German food with a warming glass of Gluhwein or tea/coffee/fruit juice will be provided.

This is usually a well supported event with parents, grand-parents and families of the school choir attending, so we need as many Twinning members as possible to help organise the hall, sell raffle tickets, and serve everyone on the day. Also if anyone can bake some ‘Advent’ biscuits, these will be welcomed to help provide the ‘home- made ‘ tradition as in Bavaria.

APRIL: The local Town Twinning Associations - Coniston, Kendal, Sedbergh, Ulverston and Windermere - recently held an exhibition in the Kendal Town Hall which was well attended. The exhibition was visited by officers from the North West Twinning Federation together with visitors from as far a field as Lancashire and Yorkshire and there was an exchange of ideas between the various groups. The exhibition showcased what 'twinning' was all about, with photographs, memorabilia, music and "Lebkuchen" - traditional biscuits.

6th Diessen "British" Week

A very special event took place this year in Bavaria in that every 10 years sees the dramatic presentation of the Passion Play in Oberammergau which is performed by hundreds of the residents of the Bavarian mountain village. Fourteen members and friends of the Windermere – Diessen Twinning Association joined a group of Diessen residents to attend the performance on 18^th September and found the whole colourful experience uplifting with the quality and vastness of the production, and extremely moving in terms of the telling of the Easter story.

This event was followed by Diessen’s British week and once again a number of members of the Windermere-Diessen Twinning Association enjoyed the warm hospitality of our Bavarian twin town from 19^th to 25^th September. The week included a variety of themed activities and events all aimed a fostering greater understanding of the British way of life for members of their own Twinning organisation, the Freundeskreis Ammersee-Windermere. The week opened with a Sunday Market which included a stall selling some English biscuits and Kendal mint cake. Other events through the week included an English film, readings from books and poems and a visit for the English visitors to the museum recording the life and works of Carl Orff and his influence on teaching music to children.

In contrast a performance by ‘Wallstreet Theatre’ gave their version of British humour !

A slideshow of various school exchange activities illustrated the benefits gained through Twinning for young people from both Diessen and Windermere. Our ‘Veterans’ football team gave a splendid performance at the ‘Sportplatz. when they beat the home side with 3 goals to 0 earning themselves a visit to the Oktoberfest in Munich later in the week. An enjoyable evening meal with musical accompaniment by members of the ‘Blasergruppe’ gave the English visitors a sample of Bavarian tradition and culture. The week’s events were capped of by a splendid fireworks display.

Finally a visit to the Wengen Autumn Market on September 26th was highlighted by the impressive display of old tractors and farm machinery, and demonstrations of traditional crafts still practised in the rural areas in Bavaria. Stalls selling local foods and many people in traditional costumes added up to a colourful country show, similar in its purpose to agricultural shows in the English Lake District.

Anyone wishing to know more about our Twinning activities is invited to contact the Chairman, Jennifer Borer, by telephone on Windermere 44995.

Past Chair's 'Thank You!'

The Windermere Town Twinning Association held its 12th Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 17th March at the Burnside Hotel during which Sheila Ricketts 'retired' as Chairman. Sheila would like to thank everyone who has helped in anyway, over the past 11/12 years, to make the Town Twinning thrive. Whenever there has been an event, and whenever we have welcomed our friends from Diessen, local businesses, schools, churches, clubs and individuals have always helped. It has been a privilege to work with the other members of our Committee to cement friendships/contacts with our 'Twin'. Thank you all and I trust you will continue to support your Town's Twinning in the future.

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40 students and 4 teachers from the Lakes School have recently returned from a trip to Diessen. This was made in association with the Windermere Town Twinning Association. The trip included a visit to the Carl Orff School, a water feature park, a visit to Munich, Neuschwantein Castle (Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang fame) and a boat trip on the Ammersee. A lakeside barbeque was laid on by the Diessen Town Twinning Association and the students of Carl Orff School.

The complete 10th Anniversary Celebrations - photographs, articles, acknowledgements etc can be found by clicking on the above.

Councillor Chris Tewksbury, the Mayor of Windermere and Bowness unveiled a ‘finger sign’ erected in the park by the Baddeley Clock in Windermere, pointing out the direction and distance to the twin town of Diessen-am-Ammersee. This sign was a gift from the people of Diessen to the town of Windermere and Bowness. The sign matches a corresponding sign in the town of Diessen.

The annual garden party was held in June at the Fairfield Guest House,

Garden party at the Fairfield Guest House

Brantfell Road, Bowness, to raise funds for the Town Twinning Association was again a success, generating nearly £200 to go towards the funds. The weather held out, and was even sunny. Fund-raising will be going on over the coming months to help with the preparations for events to be held in 2008 to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the twinning of Windermere with Diessen-an-Ammersee, near Munich in Bavaria.

The month of May saw a visit from the ladies friendship group, the "Frauenbund" from Diessen who spent several days in the area taking advantage of the better weather to enjoy a variety of activities. These included a lake cruise on Windermere, and a trip on the 'La'al Ratty in Eskdale. The ladies had a wonderful time which ended in a garden party where they were joined by local ladies of the WI, and St. Herbert's Catholic women's League. A full English afternoon tea was provided including a 'welcome cake', to the delight of the visitors who thanks the people of Windermere for their hospitality.

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