Four yodellers from Wantage’s twin town of Seesen in Germany entertained members of the German Group of the Wantage , Grove & District Twinning Association with traditional music and songs from the Harz Mountains.
The musicians (members of the Folklore Choir Harzromantika) joined the 29 visitors as part of the week long exchange visit to Wantage from 15 – 22nd July staying with local host families. The group were welcomed on arrival at the Civic Hall by the Wantage Town Mayor Councillor Charlotte Dickson and the Deputy Mayor Councillor M Rope. During the week, the German guests enjoyed a full programme of visits to London, Cambridge, Oxford, Hungerford and Cheddar Gorge.
The highlight of the visit (courtesy of the Shush Club in Wantage) was a special evening of music and entertainment showcasing local talent given by members of the Wantage Silver Band, Domino Players and Pandemonium together with acts by Jenny Johns and Nigel Thornbory and songs by two local singers Julia Reynolds and Michael Hurd.
The four members of the Harzromantika, dressed in traditional costume then delighted the audience with a selection of traditional yodel songs and a demonstration of bell ringing and whip cracking from the Harz Mountains.
Said Marina Hein , award winning yodeller and leader of the group “This is our first visit to Wantage and we have really enjoyed ourselves and been made to feel so very welcome”.
Three local dance groups, the Vale Islanders, Old Speckled Hen and the Ridgeway Step Clog put on an evening of traditional English dances for the German visitors at the Fox Inn Denchworth, where they were joined by the members of the Harzromantica in performing a further selection of German songs and music.
Greta Thornbory, Chair of the German Twinning Group said “It has been a wonderful week where we have made new friends, renewed old friendships and had the opportunity of sharing the range of talents of our two towns”
The Wantage, Grove & District Twinning Association encourages links and arranges visits between Wantage’s two twin towns of Mably in France and Seesen in Germany.. At the end of August a group from Wantage will be visiting Mably as part of the 20 year celebrations. Next summer a group from Wantage will be making a return visit to Seesen. New members of all ages are always welcome. See www.wantage.com