60th Anniversary - Mulheim Citizens Visit to Darlington

Saturday 17th Aug 2013

Leaving Mulheim on Sunday 17th August, 34 citizens travelled on the overnight ferry from Rotterdam to Hull.

They spent the Monday morning in York, where accompanied by Nigel Davison and German Guides, they had a tour of the City.
They then continued on to the James Herriott Museum at Thirsk, before arriving in Darlington for an evening dinner at their hotel - Mercure Kings - with members from the DTTIA.

On Tuesday, the first visit was a tour of Hadrian's Wall with a stop at Heddon on the Wall and then on to Newcastle for a guided tour of the City by Mr Watson.
We then went on to Durham visiting the Cathedral, followed by a tour of the Castle with Eva Schumaker-Reid.
Guides throughout the day gave a detailed history of the cities, which was much appreciated by our guests.
Dinner was at the Coach and Horses, Butchers Race, which stands on the site of skirmish between English and Scottish armies on the day preceding the Battle of Neville's Cross.

The Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of Darlington, Cllr. Gerald Lee and his wife Ruth, received our guests at the Town Hall on Wednesday morning, and David Allaway spoke about the history of our town and council organisation, and showed off the town silver!
Helen Taylor and I then took the guests on the Heritage Trail visiting St. Cuthberts Church, Indoor Market and Old Town Hall, Market Cross, High Row, Yards, Skinnergate and Quakers Hall and Churchyard.
Then on to Bolton Castle, home of the Scope dynasty, where as well as a tour of the castle there were falconry and archery displays.
A Short drive to visit the Hawes cheese factory before ending the day with a tour of the Black Sheep Brewery at Masham, where we also had a really good dinner accompanied by an excellent range of beers.

Thursday was an early start for Whitby in brilliant sunshine, where 3 hours were spent in the town, and I think just about everyone enjoyed the traditionally excellent fish and chips and visited the Abbey and church.
On to Grosmont for the 15:30 steam train journey to Pickering on the North Yorks. Moors Line, and then onto dinner at the Feathers Hotel in Helmsley.

Early start on Friday for Killhope Wheel lead mine tour and lunch in Weardale before crossing into Teesdale to High Force waterfall and then returning to Darlington for shopping, before having a farewell dinner at the Dolphin Centre.
Altogether 60 people attended what was a great night, with good food and wine, and superb entertainment from the Forum folk singers.
Presents were exchanged, speeches made, farewells said, before everyone rushed back to their hotel and homes in the pouring rain - the first of the week!

Our guests left on their Heuer coach at 09:30 on Saturday, taking with them Yorkshire tea, marmalade and lemon curd for the DTTIA visit to Mulheim in September and December.
They were calling at Rievaulx Abbey and Beverley before taking the overnight ferry to Rotterdam and then to Mulheim.

A great week full of fun and friendship which is what twinning is all about!
Safe journey home and see you soon in Mulheim.

Report By: Tom Nutt

Mulheim Guests
Marga Axmann, Irmgard Bauersachs, Christa Bolten, Sigrid Brans-Engel, Gunter Brans, Jutta Buckhorst, Marianne Canzler, Hans-Joachim Groezinger, Yvonne Haberkamp, Angelica Haefer, Eberhard Heinrich, Beate Kamleiter, Annegret Kopp, Gisela Krister, Manfred Krister, Inge Limp, Hildegard Michels-Roel, Wolfgang Michels, Bernd Moehr, Christel Ribbrock, Dr Gerhard Ribbrock, Dr Ursula Ritter-Thomas, Ingeborg Schunz, Ilse Steilberg, Dieter Steilberg, Margot Waldow, Regina Wiegand, Margareta Wietelmann, Margret Woschei, Magdalena Zils.
And of course coach owner and driver, Eberhard Heuer, who knows more about our country than we do!

Darlington Hosts
Tom & Gill Nutt, Dave Watson, Pauline Weegram, Gerald & Ruth Lee, Mike Roff, Helen Taylor, Ann Rider, Dave Lyonette, Geoff Walker, Isobel Hartley, Maggie Ellison, Helen Crumbie, Philip Crumbie, Joan Emerson, John Emerson, Norman Horton, Mavis Horton, Liz Hart, Ray Flowers, Marian Flowers, Lillian Elliott, Nigel Davison, Eva Schumaker-Reid.

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