Honorary Citizen Hoffmeister over 50 years of friendship with Knaresborough

Honorary Citizen Hoffmeister over 50 years of friendship with Knaresborough

A very special anniversary was recently celebrated in Bebra: the town twinning with the small English town of Knaresborough has now existed for 50 years. On the occasion of this solemn occasion, a large event took place, which included music, speeches and a portion of whiskey. Young talents such as violinist Noel Stockmann added to the festive atmosphere by playing the European anthem and other pieces. Bagpipe player Rainer Sieland opened the evening and created the right atmosphere.

In his speech, Mayor Uwe Hassl emphasized the lively partnership, while the head of the city council, Herbert Börner, praised the hospitality of the people of Bebra. Minister of State Michael Roth used the opportunity to appeal for the defense of democratic values, which was met with an enthusiastic “Yes!” from the guests from Knaresborough. was honored. Knaresborough Mayor Christine Willoughby also conveyed warm greetings and highlighted the importance of friendship between the towns.

The driver of the partnership

A central face of this partnership is Nortrud Hoffmeister, who has shaped the exchange between Bebra and Knaresborough for over 40 years. The now 81-year-old was made Bebra's first honorary citizen five years ago after leading the partnership association for 37 years. Hoffmeister came to Knaresborough 40 years ago as a “bed runner” and made her first contacts there that today foster a lively friendship. The bond, which began in the 1950s through their English teacher, has developed over the years with Christmas cards and personal visits.

In her speeches, Chairwoman of the Knaresborough Partnership Association, Mavis Clemmitt, highlighted the pride in the achievements achieved and expressed the wish for more involvement from the younger generation. Medals and gifts were awarded to the members of the partnership as a token of appreciation for their long-standing contribution.

An important network for international understanding

The importance of town twinning is diverse. There are an estimated 6,500 such connections in Germany, of which over 2,200 are with French locations alone. The first German-French partnership was founded in 1950 between Ludwigsburg and Montbéliard. Typically, these friendships serve to promote international understanding after the horrors of World War II. Nevertheless, partnerships with England are rarer than those with France or Poland.

Nortrud Hoffmeister emphasizes the importance of exchange in today's world. Despite a certain weariness in the partnerships, as also noted in Bebra, they are still an important tool for understanding between cultures. Hoffmeister stepped down as chairman of the partnership in February 2025, but plans to return to more personal interests and activities in the future while enjoying the fruits of her many years of labor.

The celebrations in Bebra show how much life there is in such a town twinning and how important it is to maintain it. The warm encounters and exchanges that have grown over decades represent a valuable contribution to European understanding. Bebra and Knaresborough - a couple that can really be seen in the diverse landscape of European town twinning.

Hersfeld newspaper reports that Nortrud Hoffmeister shaped the exchange with Knaresborough over many years. HNA adds that the anniversary was also celebrated with a big celebration. Deutschland.de provides context for the 6,500 town twinning relationships that exist in Germany and highlights their historical significance.