Island officials attend Biberach Guernsey Week

The relationship between Guernsey and the town stems from the fact that more than 1,000 Sark and Guernsey people were interned at Camp Lindele during the Second World War.

There are 12 graves in the town itself, where a commemoration event was held during the week.

Along with Sir Richard McMahon and Deputy Lyndon Trott, former Bailiff Sir Richard Collas, the Dean, the Very Rev. Tim Barker and German consul Chris Betley were in the town.

None of the members of the Guernsey Deportees Association were able to attend, but Mr Betley said a special message from its chairwoman Jill Chubb was read out at the formal commemoration by the Bailiff.

Although Guernsey is not officially twinned with Biberach, the town treats the island as one of the many places that it is twinned with and each year holds a special week devoted to the island.

‘I was there for the formal opening of Guernsey Week but it’s more like Guernsey month,’ said Mr Betley.

‘The organising committee from Biberach have done an amazing job in compiling so much interest and support from Guernsey.’

Food and drink from the island including gache and gin which were taken over for sale in a market, while Biberach residents had grown Guernsey tomatoes to be sold.

Artist Louise Le Pelley had some of her Guernsey pub paintings on display, along with new ones she had done of pubs in Biberach. There was music in the form of folk tunes and sea shanties from duo Bolt and Geoghegan, while violinist David Le Page also performed.

‘That was absolutely brilliant,’ said Mr Betley. ‘They loved him.’

There was also a workshop on how to knit a guernsey and the visitors were presented with soft toy Biberach beavers sporting their own knitted guernseys.

Other events included a Sunday service conducted by the Dean and in the coming weeks there will be a gin-tasting contest, films, and other special events to reflect Guernsey life.