News and Obituaries
News Roundup Spring 2024
* we have a new vice-president in Hugh Peacocke (who replaces Lee
Jakeman as Kidderminster Town Council CEO)
* AGM at St Peter’s at 7.00pm on 13th March
* Twinning zone at Kidderminster railway station completes in May
* Next committee meeting is 6.00pm onTuesday 14th May
* Visit by Herman Tast Schule to King Charles School 2nd - 7th June
* Quiz Night at St Peter’s, Date to be arranged.
* Husum Twinning Association members visiting August 14th - 21st
* Husum church group in Kidderminster September 14th - 18th
* Kidderminster Choral Sociey and Theodor Storm Chor linked again
* purple crocuses around town have been wonderful this year
* Twinning Association visit to the Ring Rider Festival in June 2025
* Kidderminster Male Choir singing at Harbourfest in August 2025
A group of seven church members, from a variety of denominations in Kidderminster, visited Husum in June 2023. They were welcomed by a most hospitable group of hosts, from a variety of denominations, thus making a very acceptable ecumenical event.
In a full week of visits and outings the group enjoyed a mixture of experiences, both secular and sacred. For the four members of the group who had never been to Husum before, this was an opportunity to experience the unique geographical features of this part of Germany, as well as the warm welcome and excellent hospitality, which is always the trademark of our exchanges.
Among the experiences the group enjoyed were a visit to Hallig Hooge, travelling there by ship and around the Hallig by a horsedrawn carriage; a day at the Multimar Wattenforum Centre near Tönning; a tasting session at a local vineyard; visits to our hosts’ churches -Baptist, Catholic and Lutheran; a visit to a Food Bank and a Homeless Shelter, both run by the Church; a Bar-be-que; a visit to the Nissenhaus Museum; a mudflat walk in the Wadden Sea; a guided tour of Husum and of Schobüll; a guided tour of the Kloster, by the Wardens, Herr Rainer und Frau Eva Maaß and an organ recital in the Marienkirche. We were also officially welcomed by the Bürgermeister (Mayor); and at the weekly Market Church Service in the Marienkirche.
Our travel arrangements were from Manchester Airport to Billund in Denmark, which we found very satisfactory and we are now preparing to welcome a delegation of Husum church members to Kidderminster, next summer.
Heidy Hague
Churches Twinning Visit to Husum - June 2023.
Mudflat Walk in the Wadden Sea
In the Marien Kirche
Light Refreshment in Husum
In the Catholic Church
After a considerable delay of two years, due to COVID, and two ‘false starts’, the Churches Twinning of Kidderminster and Husum took place in June 2022. Five Hosts entertained seven Guests in Kidderminster for six days of activity; unfortunately, ill health prevented some Guests and Hosts fully participating at the last moment.
The first full day (Friday) involved a breakfast at Franche Community Church, where the full team met for the first time. This was followed by an official welcome at Kidderminster Town Hall, by the Mayor, and a tour of the Town Hall.
After this, a walk round Kidderminster was followed by a drive to Stourport and a walk around the town, with a generous lunch provided by Wesley Methodist Church in Stourport.
The group continued on to Bewdley, where after a walk around the town, they were entertained to afternoon tea at Bewdley Baptist Church. The day concluded with an organ recital at Milton Hall Baptist Church, Kidderminster and more tea and cake!!!
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On the last full day, the group did the ‘Wilden to Witley’ tour. The Wilden All
Saints Church is renowned for its complete Burne-Jones windows and other Pre-Raphaelite, Arts and Crafts, Baldwin and MacDonald Sisters treasures.
On Saturday, a full day on the Severn Valley Railway was appreciated, with a stop at the Engine House Visitor Centre. Seat reservations made the journeys much more enjoyable and a highlight was having a guided tour of the Royal Train at The Engine House, Highley, and travelling on the special Jubilee train.
On Sunday morning Hosts took Guests to their own churches for worship and then had most of the rest of the day at leisure. In the early evening Hosts and Guests met at Trinity Methodist Church for a joint Celebration Service, in which some Hosts and Guests participated.
The group were privileged to have an in-depth talk on the church and its contents before driving to Great Witley, where lunch had been prepared in the Garden Tea Rooms. Following this, a guided tour of the magnificent Great Witley Church and its Crypt was enjoyed and the final event of the visit was a Farewell Meal, generously provided by Trinity Methodist Church.
Kidderminster Husum Churches Twinning Visit 2022
On Sunday morning Hosts took Guests to their own churches for worship and then had most of the rest of the day at leisure. In the early evening Hosts and Guests met at Trinity Methodist Church for a joint Celebration Service, in which some Hosts and Guests participated.
On the last full day, the group did the ‘Wilden to Witley’ tour. The Wilden All
Saints Church is renowned for its complete Burne-Jones windows and other Pre-Raphaelite, Arts and Crafts, Baldwin and MacDonald Sisters treasures. The group were privileged to have an in-depth talk on the church and its contents before driving to Great Witley, where lunch had been prepared in the Garden Tea Rooms. Following this, a guided tour of the magnificent Great Witley Church and its Crypt was enjoyed and the final event of the visit was a Farewell Meal, generously provided by Trinity Methodist Church.
See the Civic Visit 2022, Click Here
The next day necessitated an early start for the Guests, who took an early flight back to Hamburg (via Munich!)
The feedback was that both Guests and Hosts thoroughly enjoyed this visit and are looking forward to a return visit in the future.
During the period of COVID and up to the actual visit, the two Groups met via Zoom, bi-monthly, and the Kidderminster Team met for breakfast bimonthly, in the latter half of the planning.
The Organisers, Richard and Heidy Hague, with their Husum counterpart, Stefan Klocker, would like to thank all those involved, in any way, for making this visit such an enjoyable experience.
Heidy Hague.
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Mr Charles Talbot
January 20, 2022
It is with great sadness that we write of the death of Charles Talbot MBE, Our Mr Kidderminster.
It was due to his foresight and hard work that Kidderminster is twinned with Husum. He started the journey in 1953 and the twinning was officially initiated in 1955. He was awarded the MBE for his services to Twinning.
The funeral is at St Mary's Church, Kidderminster at 12.00pm November 22nd 2019.
We send our sincere condolences to Jean and all the family
Ann Witts
Nov 27th 2020
Ann Witts
I thought it appropriate to write a few lines in memory of ANNE WITTS (nee BRIGHTON) whose sad and untimely death you mentioned in your recent Newsletter. Anne passed away unexpectedly at home on November 27th; thankfully she was with her son John & daughter Joanne at the time.
Anne was a "Bennett Street Girl" (& proud of it), who passed to the High School in 1957. She was one of the very early Twinners to Husum, in 1962, the 2nd tranche. She held fond memories of that trip to the end of her life, and felt great gratitude that she had been part of it. (She was, by the way, a devoted fan of Charles Talbot, one of the adults in charge of that party.)
In the last 12 or 15 years she was a constant participant in Association activities, and valued the friendships she formed: she visited Husum twice more, staying with & striking up a firm friendship with Karin & Hugo Meister; & hosted them twice in her own home on the their return visits. You could say she was a "born twinner", with an infinite capacity for warmth & friendship; she did not understand, or accept, notions of difference, finding the opposite ("getting on") so much easier and more pleasant. She had an enchanting smile & manner, & lit up a room with her presence. She is sorely missed already. Thanks, Anne, for lighting up our lives.
"It was a special friendship we shared, and we remember her positive engagement, her knowledge of human nature, and her openness ... " (Karin Meister)
Ken Ryder
New Mayor of Kidderminster
May 01 2022
New Mayor of Kidderminster
At the Council meeting that took place on Wednesday 18th May 2022, Councillor Kevin Gale was elected as the Mayor of Kidderminster for the ensuing year.
