10
for Sussex
In2013, Sussexbranchwas invited toattend the30thanniversary of
Waldshut-Tiengenbranch. DavidStamp tells the story.
I
knewwewereattendinga special event
whenwewere told that wewerewalking in
the footsteps of royalty!
During a conducted tour of theancient townof
BadSäckingenour guide informedus that we
werewalkingon the stones that KingRichard the
Lionheart walkedwhen the townwasusedas
amarshallingareaduringoneof theCrusades.
The tour was part of theevent’smainattractions
and finishedon the14thCentury roofedwooden
bridge, which connects the townwithSwitzerland.
TheGerman townofWaldshut-Tiengen is situated
in theBlackForest on thebanks of theRhine,
which forms theborder withSwitzerland, on the
extreme southwest corner of Germany.
The townhasbeen twinnedwith Lewes, the
county townof Sussex, for some years and the
two IPAbranches from these regionshavebeen
enjoyingbi-annual exchanges since1996.
Blois, inFrance, is also twinnedwith Lewes and
Waldshut-Tiengenand their IPA groupshavebeen
exchanging visits since1988.
Whenwe first arrivedCaryl,mywife, and I were
met by ArnoldWieser who tookus toour hosts,
theFaralisch family, whowehaveknown since
1996.We stayed in their enormous18thCentury
farmhouse in the townof BadSackingen. Some
French guests fromBlois occupied the
ground floor.
Onehighlight which showed thewarmthof
the local peopleoccurredon theday of the
mainevent. Our hosts tookus for a short walk
in the townwherewewere giveneggs in the
localmarket. All attempts atmakingpayment
was refused.Wealsomet theMayor at the
Trumpeter’sCastle inBadSackingen.
Later, weallmet in thenew sports
centre in the town for adinner
accompaniedby aperformance
froma local orchestraand singer.
Ademonstrationof gymnastics and
cycling skillsby the youngpeopleof
the town followed.
I was pleased tohave takenwith
meanumber of IPApennants
which I exchangedafter the
speecheshad takenplace.
I alsopresentedapainting
of TheSevenSistersCliffs,
together with theever popular
‘Bobbieshelmet’- which is
always abighit.
This areaof Germany is
ideal walking country andwe
enjoyedwalking in the ‘Sound
ofMusic’ likemeadowsbefore
stopping for a coffeeand the
inevitableanddeliciousBlack
Forest gateaux.
ArminPetzmann,Waldshut-
TiengenbranchSecretary,
was alsokindenough to show
us around thearea, including
the Jesuit Collegeat St.
Blaise’sAbbey, an incredible
Benedictinemonastery in the
villageof St. Blasien.
My thanksmust go to
Waldshut’sChair,Markus
Schaaf, andhishardworking
teamwhich includedhiswife
Monica - whoassistedme in
communicatingwithour IPA
colleagues.
Theevent was a great success
and it’s good to seean
international celebratory event
held in the true spirit of IPA in
this very attractivepart
of Europe.
DavidStamp
, Sussex branch
DavidStamppresentinga
bannerette toAlexander Guhl -
Mayor of BadSackingen
DavidStampandMarkusSchaaf
Above: the trumpeter of BadSackingen
Below: 14th century bridge
Article
POLICEWORLD
Vol 59No. 2, 2014
