Danke Schön Heusenstamm

No evidence has come to light that Jane Austen ever visited Germany, although her brother Edward visited is known to have made a trip to a silver mine at Freiberg. However, when Councillor Vivian Branson paid a recent visit to our twin town Heusenstamm it was evident that the famous author is well-known and popular in Germany.

Vivian was invited by the Heusenstamm Freundschaftskreis (Friendship Circle) to give a talk on Jane Austen, and on October 26, dressed in period costume and aided by slides and hand-outs, she brought to life the buildings and places in and around Tonbridge which have a connection with the Jane Austen and her family. 

Vivian enthralled her audience.  The talk was so popular with the locals that two teenage girls cycled from the neighbouring town of Offenbach to learn about the famous english author. Such is the interest a Jane Austen tea is planned next month in Offenbach. 

At the end of the evening Vivian was presented with a book on Heusenstamm, and as this was her first visit she was also given a guided tour of the town. 

A very generous donation raised at the talk will be used by the Jane Austen Fund in Tonbridge for a special project.  

‘I have had a simply marvellous time', said Vivian, and so did everybody in the audience who now know not only more about our wonderful author, but also that she had such strong links with Tonbridge. 

Recognising Tonbridge Recognised

Recognising Tonbridge feature

This was a difficult one, and it took a while for it to be recognised, but eventually a number of people spotted where this stone feature is situated in Tonbridge. It is a relic from the old Heusenstamm Castle in Germany, presented to the Heusenstamm Friendship Circle in Tonbridge, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the twinning of the two towns. The stone is situated on the grassy area close to the War Memorial.

The first to recognise the stone was Tony Keen who wrote:-
'At first I thought this was the path that runs from the Big Bridge to the Council Offices at the castle, passing behind Chequers. Then I realised that said path is the other side of the wall, and I couldn't work out what the masonry in the foreground was Then this afternoon I walked by the war memorial and realised that I'd got it spot on, that's not a path (the path is the other side of that wall) and the masonry is a fragment of Heusenstamm castle, which I'd never known was there.'

Tony's post really pleased me, as I started the Recognising Tonbridge idea in the hope it would encourage people to look more closely at the fine details, and interesting features in the town that are usually unnoticed. I receive lots of comments from readers who are always discovering something new that they hadn't seen before, and yet had walked by many times.

Peter Harris, as always, knew the spot as did a number of others.

The Heusenstamm Friendship Circle (I'm a member) aims to bring together those who are interested in our twin town in Germany, and to encourage people to take part in visits to Heusenstamm and in return receive visitors.

Tonbridge & Malling has been twinned with Heusenstamm since 1984, and there are established links between many local groups with their opposite number in Heusenstamm, among them the Tonbridge Philharmonic Society, Oast Theatre Club, Old Juddian Rugby Club, Table Tennis Club, and the Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Concert Band.

Annual exchanges are also made by the Judd School and, until recently, by Tonbridge Grammar School. Exchanges have also taken place between the Hayesbrook School and the Realschule. It is hoped the schools links will be extended in the near future to include Slade School and an equivalent school in Heusenstamm.

Also regular visits are made to Heusenstamm to enjoy music, sports, drama and other joint activities, and visitors stay in the homes of their hosts, and many long lasting friendships have been made in this way.

If you want to join and get to know the culture and the people of Heusenstamm, and their beautiful town visit http://heusenstammfriendshipcircle.co.uk/default.asp?page=3 There's also a permanent display at The Angel Centre which includes photographs where you can pick up details of the Huesenstamm Friendship Circle and an application form.