The Cesky Brod Association of Southwell President: Brendan Haigh Contacts: Peter Molyneux, Chairman 01636 815011 Malcolm Rose, Vice Chairman 01636 813074 Jim Tyrrell, Joint Secretary 01636 813371 Ellen Carolan, Joint Secretary 01636 814810
SOUVENIR NEWSLETTER No. 26 | TEACHER EXCHANGE
The Cesky Brod Association of Southwell was formed in 1992, soon after the "Velvet Revolution" which made possible the restoration of informal and friendly contacts between the West and the new Czech Republic. The present Association owes a debt of gratitude to the enthusiasm of John Marshall who first proposed the idea. After finding a sufficient core of supporters to form the first committee, links with Cesky Brod itself were established through existing friendship links between Nottinghamshire and the district of Kolin in which Cesky Brod lies.
The Gate to Cesky Brod
Cesky Brod was chosen because it is a similar size to Southwell but the twinning between the two towns is unusual in that the Southwell end of the twinning is community-based and not Council based. The aims of the Association are to: strengthen and extend the ties of friendship. foster and develop understanding and respect. promote peace, democracy and prosperity between our nations. recognise our common European heritage and the growing spirit of co-operation within Europe. encourage and assist youth and adult organisations, clubs and groups to communicate and exchange visits with each other. develop social, educational, cultural and sporting relations and to establish a firm foundation between our communities for all time.
Some recent visitors from Cesky Brod with Association Members
Since 1993 there have been visits in one direction or the other almost every year. We now have a routine based on a three year pattern. The year 2000 is a 'fallow' year, but next year our Czech friends visit us and in 2002 we shall visit them. Apart from these regular friendship exchanges where we stay in each others' homes, there are also visits between other groups. Southwell Venture Scouts, the Minster Choir, Vox Bohemicalis and the Southwell Choral Society are recent examples. Language barrier? For us, Czech seems to be a difficult language and not one we learn in school. If you are interested in joining us don't be put off. Many Czechs speak excellent English and sometimes there are other languages in common, for example, German. Southwellians' Czech speaking abilities leave something to be desired but this has not prevented many firm friendships from being established. What does it cost to join? The annual subscription is deliberately kept low so as not to exclude anyone. The cost for a full family is £5 per year, for an individual £3. So far the exchange visits have always attracted a grant from the European Union in support of the specific theme of each visit. For example, the theme of the visit in 2001 by the Czechs to Southwell will be 'The Environment and Sustainability'. The grant is welcome and allows us to do much more than we otherwise could. Why should you join? The Association exists to create friendships. Many members have found friendship both with Czechs and with other members of the Association. At the moment, about 100 families and individuals, of all ages and walks of life, from Southwell and the surrounding area belong. The Association does all its own fund raising. A great variety of social events take place each year and working together on these brings members together. The events are always well supported by members themselves and others. They are always good fun. Events, visits and other news are regularly reported in our lively and interesting Newsletter. Cesky Brod is a short train journey from the wonderful city of Prague. It is set amongst beautiful countryside with a huge range of attractive and historic towns and villages within easy reach. Surprisingly, Cesky Brod is as close to Southwell as the south of France! How to join Get in touch, by phone, with any of the above named people.
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The Cesky Brod Association of Southwell SOUVENIR NEWSLETTER - AUGUST 2001 - No. 26
THE TOP TABLE AT THE FORMAL DINNER AT THE RED HOUSE ON TUESDAY EVENING
THE ADDRESS BY JAROMIR FISCHER THE MAYOR OF CESKY BROD
From left to right MRS JILL DAWN Chairman of Newark and District Council: PETER MOLINEAUX chairman of our Association: BRENDAN HAIGH: MIROSLAVA JONASOVA interpreter: JAROMIR FISCHER Mayor of Cesky Brod: MIROSLAV URBAN interpreter: IVA FISCHEROVA wife of the mayor: SHIRLEY CRUSE Chairman of Southwell Town Council: MALCOLM ROSE Dept Chairman of the Southwell Cesky Brod Association.
Tuesday 14th August
VISIT TO THE NOTTINGHAM TRENT UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF LAND BASED STUDIES : BRACKENHURST
Our party looking at the greenhouses and the production of soft fruit and vegetables in the Victorian walled garden at Brackenhurst.
A farm walk passing the restored water feature at Brackenhurst.
Also on Tuesday a visit was arranged to the eco-friendly private house in the Westhorpe part of Southwell. Here we saw the practical application of energy saving ideas. All the bedrooms are underground with a flower meadow above them. The two storey conservatory provides light and heat for the whole house. Our picnic in the garden was shared by three free range hens.
Wednesday 15th. August
SCARBOROUGH
At 7.45 a.m. we left the Church Street car park bound for North Lincolnshire, The Humber Bridge, Yorkshire, Beverley, Scarborough and Flamborough Head. We had an appointment with Captain Miller the Harbour Master at Scarborough at 11.00 a.m. 134 miles away.
What is everyone looking at? Fishy tales of lobsters and crabs from Captain Miller.
COASTAL EROSION AT FLAMBOROUGH HEAD
Coastal erosion and the lighthouse at Flamborough Head
A meal to remember at Reeds Hotel, Barton-on-Humber
Thursday 16th. August
The University of Nottingham Enterprise and Innovation Department hosted our Czech guests at their Jubilee Campus. Here they saw The David Wilson Millennium Eco-House. This house incorporates light pipes, a solar chimney to circulate the air, photovoltaic panels integrated into roof tiles, a wind turbine and solar collectors; a visit into 'Tomorrow's World'. We were delighted to have 14 teenagers with our Czech visitors. Their generation will develop these ideas.
THE FINAL FAREWELL TO OUR AUGUST 2001 SOUTHWELL CESKY BROD EXCHANGE - WHY NOT COME WITH US NEXT YEAR TO CESKY BROD AND MEET OUR FRIENDS AGAIN?
Friday 17th August
This was the day our Czech guests spent with their hosts. Eileen took Eva to York and they ate Fat Rascals in Bettys; Jim and Joan had gardening guests so they went to Geoff Hamilton's garden at Barnsdale; some teen age girls went shopping for clothes; other young people went to Alton Towers or The American Adventure; some went to Hardwick; some went to Lincoln and others saw Belvoir Castle. Wherever they went a good time was had by guests and hosts together.
THE FAREWELL GARDEN PARTY
One hundred and ten people came to Brendan's garden on Friday evening where the band 'Sweet Chorus' played and Ladislav Trudic iced a cake with his photograph of the top table at the formal dinner. Ladislav transferred the photograph on his computer to edible paper and printed it with edible inks!
Sweet Chorus   :   The Cake   :   Presentation
WE PRESENTED THE CAKE TO JAROMIR FISCHER THE MAYOR
ON SATURDAY MORNING 18TH. AUGUST IT WAS TIME TO GO HOME
PETER MOLYNEUX, OUR CHAIRMAN WITH VLADIMIR KLINDERA  :  HOMEWARD BOUND
WE WERE ESPECIALLY PLEASED THIS YEAR TO WELCOME BILL NEWTON DUNN, OUR MEP, TO OUR FORMAL DINNER. WITHOUT CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM THE EUROPEAN UNION WE COULD NOT MOUNT THESE HAPPY, FRIENDLY AND HUGELY SUCCESSFUL EXCHANGES. MANY FRIENDSHIPS ARE ALREADY WELL ESTABLISHED.
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TEACHER EXCHANGE
When Ivo Kocum and Andre Socha from the Cesky Brod Gymnasium came to Southwell last September, they spent a day with Mr. Steven Green, Head of Physics at West Bridgford School, looking at Science, Maths and Computer Studies. At the time is was understood by both Mr. Green and Mr. Bossart, Head of Science at the Minster School, that they would pay a return visit to the Cesky Brod Gymnasium with a view to arranging closer links between the two schools. Mr. Blinson, Headmaster of the Minster School in Southwell was unable to release Mr. Bossart for the return visit this May, so this is a report on Mr. Green's highly successful one week visit to Cesky Brod, where he taught Physics and Maths in the Gymnasium.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday Steve taught in the school in Cesky Brod covering English, Physics, Chemistry and Computer Science.
Steve stayed with Ivo Kocum at his house in Cesky Brod.
On Sunday they went to The Astronomical Observatory at the Czech Academy of Science in Ondrejov.
On Thursday they went to the Air Force Museum at Kbely and The National Technical Museum in Prague.
This is the Soyuz Space Capsule that returned the first Czech cosmonaut from MIR to Earth.
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