Our Timeline
1995
March
Nigel Keen visits Sevenoaks to explore the possibility of a twinning with Rheinbach
August
John and Judith Spurway visit Rheinbach and report back to the Town Council
September
Steering group formed
November
First committee meeting, Gillian Theaker elected first Chairman
1996
February
Sevenoaks Mayor Tony Clayton visits Rheinbach
April
Sevenoaks group visit to Rheinbach
Winetasting and meal in Mayschoss, Ahr Valley
June
First group visit from Rheinbach to Sevenoaks for an introduction to the town
Dinner at The White Hart, Sundridge
September
Second Rheinbach group visit
November
AGM
1997
March
Buergermeister Hans Schellenberg and Town Clerk Gerhard Martini visit Sevenoaks
May
Sevenoaks group visit to Rheinbach for the May Fair
Sankt Martin Madrigal Choir sing at St. Mary’s Kippington
July
Two Sevenoaks students from Walthamstow Hall undertake work experience in Rheinbach
October
Fidelia Concert Band from Wormersdorf perform at Sevenoaks School and Walthamstow Hall
November
AGM
1998
January
New Year dinner at The Bullfinch, Riverhead
February
Choir of Bromley High School for Girls performs at the Palotti Church in Rheinbach
May
A group from Rheinbach travels to Sevenoaks to visit Knole and Hever
Dinner at The Bullfinch, Riverhead
August
Sevenoaks members and The Lydian Orchestra travel to Rheinbach for British Week
October
Nigel Keen organises a music and poetry recital at Walthamstow Hall in Sevenoaks
November
AGM
1999
January
New Year dinner.
First Rheinbach student travels to Sevenoaks for work experience at Age Concern
February
Sevenoaks group visits Rheinbach to celebrate ‘Karneval’
March
Second Rheinbach student visits Sevenoaks for work experience.
June
A delegation from Sevenoaks, led by Mayor Anne Dawson, travels to Rheinbach to participate in the town’s 700th anniversary celebrations.
November
AGM
December
Both town councils approve a formal twinning.
2000
January
New Year dinner .
Miriam Weiss travels to Sevenoaks for 2 weeks’ work experience
June
Official twinning ceremony at the Vine, Sevenoaks, followed by a celebratory dinner at St. Julians and a church service at St. Mary’s, Kippington
July
Nadine Warzel spends 3 months working in Sevenoaks
November
AGM
2001
January
New Year dinner
May
Official twinning ceremony in Rheinbach
Charters signed at the Himmeroder Hof before an official dinner
Sunday service at the Palotti Church before an afternoon cricket match and BBQ
October
First annual school exchange between Walthamstow Hall and Sankt Josef Gymnasium
November
AGM - Warwick Richardson becomes interim Chairman
2002
January
New Year dinner at The Plough, Ivy Hatch
Exhibition in library to mark Europe Day
May
First Spring Walk organised by Chris Ide
July
Return cricket match in Sevenoaks
November
German group attends Guy Fawkes celebrations on Duke’s Meadow
Dinner at St. Julians
Valerie Partridge elected Chairman at the AGM
2003
January
New Year dinner
April
Spring walk
May
Sevenoaks group travels to Rheinbach and visits the Bundestag in Bonn and the Adenauerhaus in Rhoenbach, followed by a dinner in Bad Muenstereifel
November
AGM
2004
January
New Year dinner
Spring
walk
The Friends of Rheinbach join the British German Association
December
A Sevenoaks group visits the German Christmas markets
2005
January
New Year dinner
February
Seven Walthamstow Hall pupils travel to Rheinbach for work experience
Spring walk
June
Group visit from Rheinbach, taking in Sissinghurst, Hever Castle and the Sevenoaks Festival, ending with a Murder Mystery Evening and meal at the Community Centre.
September
A Rheinbach student does 4 weeks’ teaching practice in Sevenoaks
November
Chris Ide elected Chairman at the AGM
2006
January
New Year dinner
February
A group of students from Rheinbach undertake work experience in Sevenoaks
Spring
walk
May
Sevenoaks members travel to Rheinbach over the May Day weekend for the opening of the Sevenoaks roundabout and a tour of the Bonn Botanical Gardens
The Friends of Sevenoaks present their German counterparts with an oak tree to be planted in the grounds of the Glasfachschule
November
AGM
2007
January
New Year dinner at Donnington Manor
Spring
walk
September
German group arrives for the opening of the Rheinbach Gardens and presents the town with two iron bollards '
Visits to Canterbury and Tudeley and dinner at Donnington Manor
November
AGM
2008
January
New Year dinner
Spring
walk
June
Nine members of Rheinbach Cycling Club, including Buergermeister Stefan Raetz, ride to Sevenoaks in time to meet Mayor Pam Walshe for the opening of the town fair and present her with a signpost for the Rheinbach Gardens.
August
Sevenoaks members fly to Germany . A cruise on the Rhine is followed by a visit to Marksburg Castle and dinner at the Glasfachschule
November
AGM
2009
January
New Year dinner at St. Julians
May
A German group arrives for the May Day weekend and visits Tunbridge Wells and Penshurst Place.
Joint spring walk, starting in Shoreham .
Dinner at Donnington Manor.
September
Sackville Singers perform ‘Romney Marsh’ by Peter Young at the Rheinbach Choir Festival.
November
Chris Sutton elected Chairman at AGM
2010
January
New Year dinner
Spring
walk
June
Nine cyclists from Sevenoaks make the reciprocal journey to Rheinbach, starting from the Rheinbach Gardens and meeting up with the Sevenoaks visitors at the Glassfachschule.
A Sevenoaks signpost is presented to the Mayor
Group visit to Schloss Buerresheim, followed by lunch in Beilstein on the Mosel and free time in Cochem .
Evening meal at the Glasfachschule.
November
AGM
2011
January
New Year dinner
September
Rheinbach members travel to Sevenoaks, together with 20 students from the Glasfachschule, welcomed by Sevenoaks Youth Council and looked after by Knole Academy.
Visit to Chatham Dockyard and Rochester, dinner at Knole Academy.
October
Knole Academy students visit Rheinbach
November
AGM
2012
January
New Year Dinner at the Council Chamber
June
Sevenoaks group, including cyclists again, visits Rheinbach.
Tour of the Kuchenheim Textile Museum,followed by lunch at the Steinbachsperre.
Dinner at the Glasfachschule
October
Friends of Rheinbach host a performance of the Wuppertal Boys’ Choir at St. Nicholas Church
November
AGM
2013
January
New Year dinner at the Council Chamber
Spring
walk
May
Friends of Sevenoaks arrive for a visit to Arundel.
Dinner at Knole Academy
November
AGM
2014
January
New Year dinner at the Council Chamber
Spring
walk
July
Sevenoaks visit Rheinbach for the Classic Car Weekend.
Wine tasting, Flammkuchen and a walk in the Ahr Valley
Dinner at the Waldhotel
November
AGM, Gillian Theaker elected as Chairperson.
2015
January
New Year dinner at the Council Chamber.
Spring
walk
June
Rheinbach group travels to Sevenoaks to celebrate our 20th anniversary.
Visit to Wisley and the Sevenoaks Festival.
Dinner at Ightham Mote.
July
Lydian Orchestra performs again in The Palotti Church
September
Social evening with contributions from the Lydian Orchestra and former work experience students.
November
Peter Young elected Chairman at the AGM
December
Choir and Orchestra from Rheinbach Gymnasium visit Knole Academy. Evening concert with choirs from both schools and Voces8.
2016
May
Spring Walk
This year’s spring walk took place on Sunday May 15th in the Godden Green area. Members followed a winding path through the woods and enjoyed the pastoral scenes in good weather. At one point they were amazed to see a young owl fast asleep on the branch of a tree. The walk was followed by a good lunch at the Buck’s Head.
July
Group visit to Rheinbach This year’s visit took place from the 7th to 10th of July. After a later than planned arrival all members enjoyed the customary generous array of cake at the Town Hall before an evening spent with hosts. Next morning we set off in the coach again at 10am for a tour of the historic Roman Aquaduct in the Eiffel and our excellent guides provided a comprehensive explanation of Roman ingenuity, although one location proved quite a challenge for the driver! After a leisurely lunch in Eiserfey we finished the day with a visit to the Stiftskirche in Bad Muenstereiffel and a walk around the town. Saturday was reserved for a guided tour of Rheinbach for those new to our twin town, while others chose to join their hosts in various other activities. The visit concluded all too soon with the usual farewell dinner, held this time at the Coach House. An earlier than normal 8 o’clock departure the next morning failed to avoid a long wait at customs in Calais, but it would take more than that to dampen spirits. Special mention goes to Amanda Eyre who, after an unfortunate fall on arrival, still managed to enjoy her first experience of Rheinbach!
November
The 2016 AGM took place on November 22nd at Knole Academy. The academy has developed a flourishing relationshp with a school in Rheinbach. Our meeting was preceeded by a concert from the Academys "Minstrels" and a slide show report of their recent visit to Rheinbach.
Peter Young was re elected as chairperson at the agm.
2017
February
The 2017 New Year Dinner took place on February 3rd at the "Mange Tout" restaurant in Knole academy.
The following day a team from Friends of Rheinbach competed in the Mayors annual charity quiz.
April
The 2017 Spring Walk was on April 23rd and led by Barbara Ide. The walk was followed by a lunch at the "Little Brown Jug" Chiddingstone Causeway where the walkers were joined by other members of FoR.
June
The visit from our friends in Rheinbach took place between June 22nd and June 25th.
The arrival reception was at the Sevenoaks Town council offices. The following day a trip to Brighton was enjoyed by all. The planned venue of Greenwich had to be abandoned at the last moment.
The farewell dinner was held at the Vine Baptist Church.
November
The 2017 AGM took place on November 29th at Knole Academy. Our meeting was preceeded by a most interesting talk from Mary Boyle the head of the academy, she recountted some of the tribulations, responsibilities and rewards of her role at the Academy.
Steve Miles was elected as a comittee member, whilst Reg Oakley resigned from the comitee.
2018
January
The New Year dinner was held this year on January 27th at the Community Centre, Cramptons Road.
April
The spring walk on April 22nd was led by Di Outram, followed by lunch in the Three Horseshoes, Knockholt.
June
Our group visit to Rheinbach took place from 7th to 10th June, beginning with the usual generous welcome at the Himmeroder Hof. On the Friday morning hosts and guests set off by coach for a guided tour of the Open Air Museum in Kommern, followed by a typical Rheinland lunch. New members were given a guided tour of Rheinbach on Saturday morning, while others took advantage of a chance to walk along the Rhine before a farewell evening dinner in the Coach Museum.
November
The AGM for 2018 once again took place in Knole Academy on 28th November. Before the meeting there was a short recital by Naoko Hibino (violin) and Peter Young (piano), followed by a presentation by Humphrey Pring detailing the work of ‘Sevenoaks Welcomes Refugees’.
2019
June
The visit this year from our friends in Rheinbach took place from the 11th to the 14th June. It was a very much reduced contingent from the Freunde von Sevenoaks, as the uncertainty over cross channel transport had meant insurmountable problems in hiring a coach, so just a group of 5 including FvS chairmen Joachim Weiss travelled in cars to Sevenoaks.
The visit was completed with a meal at which the leaders of both groups gave brief speeches pledging that despite the present uncertain political situation the friendship would continue.
November
The AGM for 2019 was held in the Sevenoaks Town Council Offices on 26th November.Cathy Baker stood down from her position on the commitee and was thanked for her service to the Friends of Rheinbach. Barbara Walker who was a former committee member re-joined the commitee.
2020
February
The New Year dinner was held this year on February 1st at Otford Village Hall
2020 was the year of the corona virus that prevented further social events and our anticipated visit to Rheinbach.
2021
2021 was a continuing year of the corona virus that prevented further social events and scheduled visit from our friends in Rheinbach.
November
The AGM for 2021 was held in the Bat and Ball Centre on 23rd November.Cathy Baker was re elected to the commitee also Laura Covill was elected to the comitee.
2022
April
The The Spring Walk was in the area of Weald. The walk was led by Di Outram on the 3rd of April and ended with a meal in the village pub.
May
The Spring dinner was held on May 7th at the Otford village hall.
November
The AGM for 2022 was held in the Town Council Chamber on 29th. This was preceded by a talk entitled "Harold Nicholson and Vita Sackville West in the 1920s Berlin:Politics and Love affairs", given by Prof Kathryn Batchelor.
2023
February
New Year Dinner.This was held on 4th February in the John London Room at the Bat and Ball Centre. Twenty members enjoyed an excellent meal and convivial evening.
April
The weather was kind to our walkers on 30th April, who enjoyed a not over-strenuous perambulation in the area around The Chaser Inn at Shipbourne. This was then the venue for an excellent lunch, where we were joined by two committee members of our sister twinning association The Friends of Pontoise.
June
After the hiatus caused by Covid and lockdowns it was wonderful once again to be able to visit Rheinbach between 1-5 June. The small size of the group (13) ruled out on financial grounds hiring a coach, so for the first time members either drove or travelled by train. Also for the first time the length of the visit was extended by one day; this wss deemed to be an excellent innovation. The visit concluded with a farewell dinner at the Waldhotel.
November
The AGM for 2023 was held in the Bat and Ball Centre on the 28th. Photographs from this years visit to Rheinbach were presented. The existing comitee were re-elected.
We are the twinning association between Sevenoaks In Kent, England and the town of Rheinbach in Germany.
We serve to share friendship and cultural understanding between the towns.
