Ludger Wösthoff turns 70: A life for Hanau and the CDU!

Ludger Wösthoff turns 70: A life for Hanau and the CDU!

On June 17, 2025, Ludger Wösthoff, a well-known figure in the Hanau CDU, will celebrate his 70th birthday. He has been loyal to the party for over 40 years and has distinguished himself in various responsible positions such as treasurer and chairman. During his membership in the Hanau city council, which has now spanned almost two decades, Wösthoff played an active role in the main and finance committee, the structure and environmental committee and the audit committee. His achievements are particularly noteworthy because he is also active on a voluntary basis outside the political arena, including as a co-initiator of the support association for the Wilhelmsbad carousel.

As the Hanauer News report, the Hanau CDU warmly congratulates Wösthoff and wishes him happiness, health and satisfaction. This appreciation reflects the importance of his commitment to the local community.

Volunteering and the support association

The support association for the carousel in the Hanau-Wilhelmsbad State Park was founded on April 23, 1998 on the initiative of Ludger Wösthoff and Stefan Bahn. The aim of this foundation was to restore and put the historic carousel, which was built in 1779/1780, back into operation. For many years it suffered from the effects of the weather and the ravages of time. The founding members had the dream of making the carousel shine in new splendor and did a lot of free work to achieve this.

The renovation of the carousel began on September 30, 2010 with the support of many volunteers, sponsors as well as the city of Hanau and the State Palaces and Gardens of Hesse. After a long period of protection from further damage, the carousel was put back into operation on July 22, 2016 with a big festival weekend. This impressively shows how much passion and community spirit goes into such projects and how important they are for the cultural life of the city. Information about the club can be found at Carousel Wilhelmsbad.

Importance of civil society engagement

The engagement of citizens in civil society is of central importance, not only for local purposes, but also for social interaction as a whole. As the Federal Agency for Civic Education highlights, in 2022 around 70% of organizations were dependent on volunteers. Volunteering ensures social participation and enables people to actively participate in important issues, be it in sport, in culture or in the social area.

The commitment of older people, as in the case of Wösthoff, has increased recently and shows that a strong awareness of social action has also developed in older age groups. Ludger Wösthoff therefore not only stands for his political work, but also for an entire generation that contributes to the success of the community through active commitment.

His upcoming 70th birthday celebrations are not only a cause for celebration, but also a valuable opportunity to reflect on all the good that has come from volunteer work in the region.