Most members of Hexham Town Twining arrived on Friday 22nd September and stayed with hosts in and around the town. On the first evening there was a civic reception in the town hall, where residents of Metzingen mixed with guests from Noyon in France, Nagykálló in Hungary and those from our own contingent. Hexham Mayor Derek Kennedy gave one of the four short speeches. Metzingen celebrated 30 years of twinning with Nagykálló.

On the Saturday the cultural programme began with music by musicians from Noyon at 10am on the Kelternplatz/ Square of the Wine Presses. A Hungarian folk group danced and sang. Amelia Dalton of Hexham performed traditional clog-dancing. Dettingen's accordion band finished the programme. At 14.30 there followed a 90-minute guided tour of the centre of Metzingen, given by Dr Fritz Kemmler.

Guests took their places at 18.00 for an evening of music-making and dance. Speeches were delivered from each of the mayors, and our Chairperson Marianne Corder addressed the company. There were French and German bands on stage and plenty of audience participation!

On the Sunday morning there was an ecumenical church service in the Martinskirche in the centre of Metzingen, after which guests moved on to a wine festival. Hexham visitors tried local wines (vineyards overlook the town), and tasted various food specialities. In the afternoon there was a chance to visit Metzingen's 'OutletCity', a shopping area full of designer shops that is known throughout Germany.

Most guests left for Stuttgart Airport by minibus, kindly arranged by Metzingen Town Twinning. We have been overwhelmed by all the hospitality over the past few days. Special thanks are due to Dr Kemmler and Raphael Szeider for their thoughtful planning in Metzingen, and to Penny Giddings, our representative for contacts with our German twin town.