70 years of town twinning: English brewery brews "Bocholt" and "Kumpel

During their current visit to Bocholt, the "Friends of Bocholt" from the English twin town of Rossendale joined forces with the German-British Society of Bocholt to look for new ways of getting people involved in twinning. The aim in the year of the 70th anniversary of the town twinning is to win over young people and families in particular to the German-British partnership.

An Oktoberfest was held in the English twin town of Rossendale to mark the occasion. A joint "pub quiz", in which Bocholt residents also took part online, was also part of the Rossendale anniversary celebrations. In Bocholt, the German-British Society of Bocholt celebrated the 70th partnership anniversary with a breakfast and a visit to the funfair. A visit to the "Everyday People" in the town of Rees rounded off the guests' stay.

"Bocholt" and "mate" symbolize partnership

The "Northern Whisper Brewing Company" is a young and successful brewery founded in Rossendale in 2017. It brewed two special types of beer called "Bocholt" and "Kumpel". Together with the "Friends of Bocholt", it wants to express its solidarity with the German twin town of Bocholt. As part of its broad repertoire of pale ales and lagers, it brews its own Cologne-style lager called "Bocholt." This naming is a special idea not only for the brewery, but also for the "Friends of Bocholt" and the German-British Society of Bocholt to show their partnership ties with Bocholt.

Light "buddy" beer for the pub quiz

In the anniversary year, Carmelo Pillitteri, Rossendal's head brewer, suggested taking the recipe for Bocholt's lager and brewing a pale ale equivalent. Rossendale residents were invited to suggest a name for the new beer in a competition. In September, the winning name for the pale ale was "mate." For the first time, the beer could be tested at the Oktoberfest. It was also served at the pub quiz held online. The winning team went home with a crate of "Bocholter".

Fundraiser for the European Youth Camp

The festive week ended with an official British Cycling Sportive. 78 kilometers were cycled from Rossendale through Calder Valley - and back. The brewery donated all proceeds to a fundraiser to enable eight people to attend the youth camp in Bocholt in July 2023. While more than 50 riders completed the tour, the families set off in the meantime to hunt for Bocholt landmarks in Rossendale. A map created especially for the 70th partnership anniversary shows the beautifully drawn landmarks on a route.