2006
Please note that not every group receives direct cash aid from the Association.
Groups visiting Hochsauerland: January 2006 - Clare Lynas, aged 19, played the pipes at a concert in Meschede, the administrative centre of HSK.
February 2006 - Balbardie Bowling Club visited Neheim and Winterberg. This organisation has been to HSK a few times now and many, lasting friendships have been established.
[Please click here to see report]
June 2006 - an official twinning delegation from the Council visited HSK. July 2006 - Thirteen Scottish teenagers visited Germany as guests of the HSK Department of Youth. August 2006 October 2006 - Newlands Brass Band visited HSK and their twinned music group "Fanfarenkorps Neheim" who celebrated their Golden Jubilee. Groups visiting West Lothian: March 2006 - A 19 year old Cellist from HSK spent two weeks in West Lothian schools assisting with the schools' String Programme. June 2006 - Three members of the HSK Sports Association visited West Lothian to explore sports development and future projects.
November 2006 - two groups of young musicians, some 15 brass players and 15 string players from HSK participated in the Brian Duguid Memorial Concert in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh on Sunday 5th November.
The late Brian's contribution to music in the County and to international exchanges is undeniable.
Two members of the Twinning Association accepted an invitation to attend. [Please click here to see report]
[Please note that, contrary to press reports, the Twinning Association did NOT contribute to the COSTS of this visit!]
- Junior String exchange. Some 35 young musicians from West Lothian travelled to HSK as guests of the Hochsauerland Music School.
- WL Swimming Development Group. Some 25 young swimmers took part in a swimming competition in HSK. This initiative follows a Sports Study visit by the HSK Chief Executive, Herr Stork, the previous year.
[Please click here to see report]
- Balbardie Indoor Bowling Club visited Neheim-Hüsten Jägerfest (Huntsman's Festival) from 17 - 21 August.
[Please click here to see report]
- Around 60 young musicians of the West Lothian Schools Brass Band participated in "Sauerland Herbst", now the largest Brass Festival in the world. No surprise that these young ambassadors are in such demand - they were Scottish, British and European youth brass band champions under the strict but benevolent baton of Nigel Boddice MBE.
- The head of the Hochsauerland Music School, Herr Georg Schauerlein, lead a small delegation from HSK along with their Polish twinning link friends to hear and study the West Lothian Instrumental Service Spring Concert Series. Georg has been a good friend and colleague to twinning who holds our musical accomplishments in high regard.
- a group of eleven politicians from the CDU party visited West Lothian. This group contained some long-time supporters of the twinning arrangements, with the international friendships transcending the politics!