Author Archives: Falkirk Twinning

On August 7, 2019, a 94-strong party consisting of Odenwald Association members, Jenkins School of Highland Dancing, Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir, local bands, The Tonkerers, Glenbervie Folk Duo, and Lads wi’ Gear, and assorted parents and friends, travelled by coach, car, plane and ferry to the Odenwald in Germany. The reason for the trip wasContinue reading “Schottische Nacht in Odenwald”

The Odenwald Association (OA) hosted a bottle stall at the Airth Highland Games on Saturday, July 27, 2019. Unfortunately, after a week of record temperatures, it rained solidly all day. This didn’t stop the stall being as busy as usual and, though the takings were down a bit on previous years, we made £205 forContinue reading “Association at Airth Games”

Two German students, Saskia and Anne, arrived in Falkirk on June 16, 2019, to spend four weeks doing work experience with Falkirk Libraries, and at Callendar House’s ‘Gladiators’ exhibition, with a few days at the Stadium too.  Odenwald Association members took them around in their free time, showing them Inverary and places en route, Culross,Continue reading “German students visit Falkirk”

The Odenwald Association was very pleased to welcome the award-winning Spielmannszug FF flute and percussion orchestra from Fränkisch-Crumbach to Falkirk in May 2019.   As well as the fabulous concert they gave in Falkirk Trinity Church, they visited Edinburgh, Doune, Loch Lomond, and Stirling, were shown round Falkirk by Chair Gray Allan and Fiona Aird,Continue reading “Gallery: Spielmannszug FF visit Falkirk”

On Saturday May 25th 2019, the Odenwald Association held a fundraising concert in Grangemouth Town Hall.  This was planned as an opportunity for a dress-rehearsal before going to Schottische Nacht in Erbach, a chance for friends and family to see the performance, as well as to raise some money to cover the costs of theContinue reading “Gallery: Town Hall concert”

At the Odenwald Association’s AGM on Tuesday, April 9, 2019, Walter Simms stepped down as Chair but agreed to stay on the committee as Vice-Chair.  Gray Allan was elected as our new Chair.  Charlie Tibbles and Anne Simms agreed to stay on as Treasurer and Secretary respectively.  Gray presented Walter with a gift of beerContinue reading “Odenwald Association AGM”

The Odenwald Association invited Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir along to its March meeting. The choir sang three lovely songs and the littlest member recited a humorous Scots poem. The choir has been going strong since 1961, and members have won several awards over the years. The choir will be hoping to win some more atContinue reading “Falkirk Gaelic Choir visit”

The Odenwald Association’s next meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, at 7 p.m. in the Committee Suite, Municipal Buildings, Falkirk, FK1 5RS, when we will have a performance from the Falkirk Junior Gaelic Choir. There will be the usual refreshments and a fundraising raffle (donations of prizes welcome).

The speakers at the Odenwald Association meeting on Tuesday, November 13, 2018, were Association members Kathryn Grainger and Neil Clark. Invited to the Falkland Islands to provide live music and meet up with Neil’s pupils there who are learning to play bagpipes online, the trip proved to be an uplifting and moving experience, well worth theContinue reading “Presentation on Falklands”

The Odenwald Association will host its next meeting on Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 7 p.m. in the Committee Suite, Municipal Buildings, Falkirk, FK1 5RS. Two of our members, Neil Clark and Kathryn Grainger, will be talking about their trip to the Falkland Islands. There will be the usual refreshments and a fundraising raffle (donationsContinue reading “Group to meet on November 13”

The first meeting of the new session of the Odenwald Association will be an Open Evening in Room A, the Committee Suite, Municipal Buildings, Falkirk, FK1 5RS. It will be held on Wednesday, October 10, 2018, at 7 p.m. Please note change of day – the room was not available for the Tuesday. There willContinue reading “Open evening – October 10”

Anne Simms (with a little help from Myra Christie) reports on a successful trip to Falkirk’s twinned area in Germany. Five members of the OA, Andy and Myra Christie, Walter and myself, and Terry Hunter, flew to Frankfurt and were picked up from the airport by Detlef Kuhn, Deputy Chair of the Schottland Vereinigung. WeContinue reading “Gallery: 2018 visit to Odenwald”

A report of proceedings at the recent Twinning Conference is reproduced below. The conference was held in Municipal Buildings, Falkirk, on Wednesday, August 22, 2018. Attendees :- Odenwald Association (Falkirk area/Odenwald region, Germany) – Walter Simms (Chair), Gray Allan (Vice-Chair), Anne Simms (Secretary), Charles Tibbles – Treasurer), Andy Christie (former Chair), Isabella Allan, Lynda KennaContinue reading “Twinning conference report”

It’s always lovely to welcome friends from the Odenwald and have the chance to repay some of the hospitality we’ve received on our visits over there – these photos are of the farewell dinner at the Hotel Cladhan and a visit to Falkirk Folk Club.

Our Bottle Stall at the 147th Airth Highland Games was very successful, and our Vice Chair, Gray Allan, enjoyed his day as Chieftain of the Games.  Thanks to everyone who helped on the Stall and at the Gates. The 2018 Games were held on July 28.

Members and friends of the Odenwald Association met up with Franziska Löw and her family when they visited Falkirk in May 2018. Activities included a walk through the Union Canal tunnel and a visit to Callendar House.