Leer is a town similar in size to Trowbridge, located in Ostfriesland, north west Germany, close to the border of Holland, with a very flat terrain.

Every year the people of Leer celebrate the Gallimarkt, traditionally a cattle market, but which nowadays includes a huge fairground and festivities in the town. The whole town comes alive and this year was no exception, however, it was a much bigger and better festival as the Gallimarkt celebrated its 500th birthday! The Trowbridge/Leer Twinning Association, supported by a £650 grant from Trowbridge Town Council, organised a coach trip of 23 local members and residents expressing an interest, who visited for six days in October, and who were hosted by families in Leer during their stay. In addition, our Mayor, Councillor John Knight, accompanied by his wife Jill, made his inaugural official visit to Leer to see for himself how the beautiful town of Leer celebrates this remarkable tradition. An itinerary of events kept the visitors busy, with the official opening of the Gallimarkt, organised trips to local fishing villages, tours of the Town Hall and other local buildings, including the famous Bünting Tea Factory and the museum. The Mayor of Leer, Wolfgang Kellner invited all the guests to a tea reception at the Town Hall, during which official gifts were exchanged, and our town crier, Trevor Heeks, was presented with a gift to commemorate his 10th attendance at the Ostfriesland Show, similar to our West Wilts Show, which runs every other year. A much deserved honour for Trevor, who is a well known figure on the streets of Leer and loved by everyone.

Further links were forged between Wiltshire Police and Leer and Emden Police, when Inspector Dave Cullop and his wife Sarah, who also took part in the trip, met with Police Director Herr Lind, the Chief of Leer and Emden Police, and took a tour of the police station.

Leer also hosts the Ostfriesland show every other year, alternating with our West Wilts Show, and each year Trowbridge Town Council sets up a traditional English Pub selling local beers from our region. Moles Brewery of Melksham supported the event, their beers proving extremely popular, with 160 pints being sold in just three hours one day! The stand always attracts a lot of attention, promoting Trowbridge and the surrounding areas, and encouraging more and more people to visit us.

On October 16 the Trowbridge Amateur Swimming Club, hosted visitors from the Leer Poseidon SV (swimming club) with whom they have had a link for almost 20 years.

The visitors were treated to a full itinerary during their stay, to include a day visit to Weymouth, a swimming gala, and celebration evening with dinner in the Civic Hall.

This event was attended by the mayor, who together with Stewart Cuthbert, the club’s twinning co-ordinator, showed off the Wiltshire Flag, which was to be presented to Paul Saathoff, a resident of Leer, who sadly was unable to make the trip due to ill health. Paul has a collection from many countries. He has a flagpole in his garden and when he receives visitors from Trowbridge he flies the English flag from it for the duration of their stay.

The Twinning Charter celebrates its 20th year in June 2009, and arrangements are already under way to mark this special occasion, when it is hoped that a delegation of officials and local twinners alike will visit Trowbridge once again for the West Wilts Show ’09.

Anyone who is interested in joining the Trowbridge/Leer Twinning Association or would like to help man a stands at local events should contact Joyce Somerville on (01373) 472426 or email adamstrinator@yahoo.co.uk