10 members of the Rotary Club of Speyer visited Chichester on Friday 1st March for a long weekend visit hosted by the Rotary Club of Chichester. It was a great success and the Rotary Clubs like the cities are now twinned with a reciprocal visit to Speyer at the end of June to help celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Rotary Club of Speyer.
So how did this come about? It all began at the City Twinning Ceremony in Speyer. After the wonderful twinning ceremony there was a chance to socialise with some of the guests. Almost by co-incidence I went over to a table where two men were in conversation, one just happened to be President of the Rotary Club of Speyer, Professor Bernd Helmig. I, too have been a past President of the Rotary Club of Chichester and president elect for 2024/2025, taking Office from July of this year. There seemed great enthusiasm for twinning the clubs which has now come to fruition with the visit here.
The Speyer group was led by their President elect Hartmut Loos with his partner Ulricke and it was good to meet up with Bernd Helmig again for what was going to be a highly enjoyable and Productive visit. The programme began with a tour of the Cathedral by Mike Evans in the Friday afternoon and in the evening was a very simple fish and chip supper in the Boys club.
Saturday morning was a tour of the City in German led by the Mayor, Cllr Craig Gerstadter which was very much appreciated despite the accompaniment of the Cathedral bells. The afternoon was free but at his request Berndt and I took a wonderful trip on the canal. I took the opportunity to introduce Bernd to the culinary delights of Luckes made a little more special by the induction of our Ukrainian guest Liudmyla Doroshenko into our Rotary club. It was also a chance for us to find out more about the impressive Rotary Club of Speyer with 71 younger active members compared to the Rotary Club of Chichester with just about 30 aging members.
The following day of departure was a brunch in a local pub, the Selsey arms, West Dean by which time many new friends and great business contacts had been made and an invitation given to visit Speyer in late June this year to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Rotary Club.
Richard Plowman PP PHF
Vice Chairman