Friendships rekindled in Bognor Regis

The town's twinning association members met up with 50 of their counterparts from their German twin towns.

Many of the friendships date from the time of the twinning '“ 25 years ago with Weil am Rhein and 15 years with Trebbin.

A centrepiece of the visit by the Germans '“ which ended on Sunday '“ was a reception at the 30m Westloats Lane school before it opens to pupils in September.

Twinning association press officer James Clevett said: "After the greetings and formalities, the visitors were then invited to tour the new building which houses some furniture made in Germany."

Taking a special interest in the college were the four students '“ two from each German town '“who joined the visitors for the first time with their costs paid by the host twinners in a new initiative.

The guests, who spent a week in Bognor in mid-August, stayed with host families in a practice which is reciprocated when Bognor's members go to Germany.

The visitors began their time in England with a trip to the Royal Horticultural Society's gardens at Wisley and Guildford Cathedral before a journey along the coast to Brighton.

London was next on the itinerary and the Germans chose to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace and the cabinet war rooms.

Various attractions around Chichester '“ Halnaker Windmill and Boxgrove Priory '“ were also visited before an evening reception at South Bersted Church hall.

It will be Bognor's turn to visit Germany in 2011. This will be in Trebbin to mark the 20th anniversary of its links with Bognor.