WVW Wunstorf Swimming Club Visits Hythe Aqua SC

WVW Wunstorf Swimming Club Visits Hythe Aqua SC

Hythe Aqua has had links with WVW Wunstorf Swimming Club near Hanover in Germany since the early 1980's. Many successful exchanges have taken place since that time with youngsters and chaperones making trips to Wunstorf and the following year returning to Hythe. Wunstorf is a lovely town similar Hythe in size a few miles from Hanover. However, Wunstorf has a 50m outdoor pool set in a beautiful park and and a 50m indoor pool for the winter.

During the late 1990's after many years the exchanges ceased (probably because the leading individuals in both clubs decided to retire). A couple of years ago Hythe Aqua received an email from the new coach at Wunstorf who had travelled to Hythe as a youngster wanting to start the exchanges again. In 2008 a party of Hythe Aqua swimmers and coaches travelled to Wunstorf and stayed with host families and had a fantastic experience during their stay,

This year a full coach of 40+ German swimmers, coaches and parents arrived in Hythe on the 3rd April for a visit lasting until 9th April. Hythe Aqua parents and friends are providing host family accommodation for all the visitors.

The trip started with a civic reception hosted by the Town Mayor of Hythe Cllr Ewart James at Hythe Town Hall last Saturday morning. Following a welcome speech by the Mayor the group were presented with a Town crest and responded by presenting the Mayor of Hythe with a Wunstorf Town flag and a Wunstorf book.

After the meeting with the Town Mayor on Saturday morning. The visitors then visited St Leonards crypt and enjoyed a sea dip and, fun time gala at Hythe Pool in the evening, Various trips have been planned by Hythe Aqua including Thorpe Park on the Sunday, Enchanted Garden on Monday, inter club swimming and water polo competition on Tuesday, Canterbury on Wednesday and a farewell party at the Hythe Cricket Club on Wednesday evening and then depart for Germany on the Thursday morning.

Hythe Aqua is delighted that exchanges have restarted as many Hythe Aqua swimmers have enjoyed the exchanges since the early 1980’s. Although the exchanges are built upon the friendship between the two swimming clubs it is more about making long standing friendships with colleagues in Germany and enjoying staying with families.

Mayor of Hythe Cllr Ewart James

Our German friends are displaying their photographs on a Flicker website
to view click here : http://www.flickr.com/photos/wvwhythe/

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