Building on a 'cultural dialogue'
THE marking of the anniversary of the liberation of the internment camps at Biberach this weekend may have been low key locally, but did not pass unnoticed.
Emerging news from Germany of the prospect of twinning the island and the town should be welcomed. Relations between the two places have not always been as strong as they are today, but significant moves were made to link the two in the 1990s, leading to regular interaction in the years since.
Former Bailiff Sir Geoffrey Rowland has previously paid tribute to those ‘who had the foresight and commitment’ back in the 1990s to start to promote the bonds of reconciliation.
The former Mayor of Biberach has described initial contacts as ‘hesitant’ but said that as the desire to engage developed, real friendships were formed. ‘Cultural dialogue is an important building block,’ he added, and it is not only the gesture of twinning that is important, but how such a relationship develops.
The move comes just in time, as the number of islanders with memories of Biberach gets smaller, and the legacy must pass to future generations and the island more broadly.
So far cultural engagement between the town and the island have been largely civic, or musical. It would be very welcome to see this develop into other cultural activities, and sport, as well as foster tourism between us.