Our activities in 2024

30 December 2024 (Monday lunchtime), Stammtisch – pub get-together

We thought it would be nice to have a Stammtisch during the quiet period between Christmas and New Year. Fifteen members met at the Bull in Theydon Bois for a festive get-together.

6–9 December 2024 (Friday to Monday), Christmas Tree Festival

St John’s Church in Epping organises a Christmas Tree Festival in early December each year. It includes musical performances, Christmas items for sale, and refreshments. Many local organisations participate, each decorating their own tree – the twinning association’s tree had its usual German theme. This year it was decorated by Barbara Lane and Joy Eldridge, using home-made gingerbread men, wooden German decorations, and other items made by Elisabeth Palm in Eppingen. It also featured a traditional German Christmas poem with an English translation.

…at the St John’s Church Christmas Tree Festival

27 November 2024 (Wednesday) 7 pm UK time, International Zoom Meeting

This was the pre-Christmas online get together between twinners from Epping and Eppingen.

23 November 2024 (Saturday), Annual General Meeting and Social Event

This took place in the United Reformed Church hall in Epping. Following the routine AGM business, there was a social event for members and guests. This consisted of a hot supper provided by the usual stalwart volunteers, followed by short talks by four of our long-standing members.

Nigel Ericson, David Hart, founder member Chris Harriss, and our president Humphrey Wheeler all gave entertaining and informative accounts of their experiences in the early years of the association and the relationships that were forged during this period. These were illustrated with a photo montage of key events.

Barbara Lane, who has stood down after 25 years as the association’s secretary, received a presentation and vote of thanks in recognition of her service in this role.

10 November 2024 (Sunday), Remembrance Day

In keeping with the annual tradition, the Epping-Eppingen Association was one of a number of local organisations to lay a wreath at Epping’s War Memorial on Remembrance Sunday.

24 October 2024 (Thursday) lunchtime, Stammtisch – pub get-together

This increasingly popular event was attended by 18 members, the largest number so far. This one took place at the Bull in Theydon Bois. Most people had lunch at the pub, but a few came just for a drink and a chat. It is always a good opportunity for members of the association – old and new – to catch up with news and to get to know one another better.

16 October 2024 (Wednesday), Committee Meeting

27–30 September 2024, visit to Epping by members of the Eppingen association

Click here for a full description of this visit with photos.

4 September 2024 (Wednesday), Committee Meeting

29 August 2024 (Thursday), 6 pm, Stammtisch

Thirteen members of the Epping association attended our monthly pub get-together.

24 July 2024 (Wednesday), 12 noon, Stammtisch

Eleven of us attended this event, including a new member of the association. These lunchtime and evening get-togethers are proving to be a good way for members to keep in touch over a drink and a bite to eat, in between our main local and international activities.

7 July 2024 (Sunday, 11 am to 5 pm), Epping Town Show

As usual, the Epping twinners had one of the many stands round the arena at this year’s Town Show. There were a few logistical problems on this occasion – not least, strong wind and heavy rain. So we’d like to thank all the helpers who braved the elements to make this another successful event in spite of the challenges. The prize competition, this time featuring a map of Germany, had 20 participants. And importantly, a number of visitors were interested in the twinning – including a couple from the USA who are researching their family roots in southern Germany, and a local person who joined us for our next Stammtisch. We look forward to better weather this time next year!

3 July 2024 (Wednesday) at 7 pm UK time, International Zoom Meeting

This was the regular online meeting between members of the Epping and Eppingen associations.

27 June 2024, early evening, Stammtisch

This was the second get-together in a local pub, and it gave the dozen or so members who attended an opportunity to catch up with one another over a meal and a drink. Those who had been on the recent language course in Eppingen shared their very positive impressions of this event, and we looked forward to the next activity in Epping which is the Town Show. Future Stammtisch events will alternate between lunchtime and evening, to suit the differing needs of members.

19 June 2024 (Wednesday), Committee Meeting

4–11 June 2024, Language Course in Eppingen

This was a German language course held in Eppingen for members of the Epping association.

For more details and photos, click here.

19 May 2024, ‘Kaffee und Kuchen’

Around 25 people attended our Coffee and Cakes event on a beautiful Sunday afternoon outside ‘Julie’s Cafe’ in Stonards Hill Recreation ground. This is a favourite occasion in the Epping association’s calendar, and it offers members and friends an opportunity to catch up with one another and meet new people in a relaxed atmosphere. A big thankyou to the organisers, including members of the association who supplied home-made cakes and pastries. A good time was had by all.

2 May 2024, International Zoom Meeting

This was the regular online meeting between members of the Epping and Eppingen associations.

26 April 2024, Epping Community Award

The Epping Twinning Association was honoured to be presented with the town’s Community Award for 2024 at the mayor’s Civic Reception held on 26 April. This award is presented annually to a voluntary organisation that has made an outstanding contribution to the local community. Humphrey Wheeler, Barbara Scruton and Barbara Lane were invited to attend and to receive the award on behalf of the association.

At the same event, our current chairperson Barbara Scruton was made a Freeman of Epping, in recognition of her many years of service to the town.

For more details and photos, click here.

19 April 2024, ‘Stammtisch’

This was our first informal get-together in a local pub. Ten members of the Epping association met for convivial conversation and a bite of lunch at The Bull in Theydon Bois, near Epping. The event was very successful, and we plan to hold more of them on a regular basis. The time and venue may vary to suit members’ wishes – details will appear here and be circulated by email. You don’t need to order food – you can just come for a drink. But either way, you need to book your place with the organiser each time, since the venue will need to know the number for seating purposes.

20 March 2024 (Wednesday), Committee Meeting

29 February 2024, International Zoom Meeting

Members in Epping and Eppingen made good use of their four-yearly bonus day by attending a joint Zoom meeting.

3 February 2024, Quiz Night with Fish & Chips

This event was held at Theydon Bois village hall rather than in Epping itself, and was attended by about 80 people from the association and the local community. There was a break from all the brainwork in the form of a delicious fish & chip supper supplied by a local chippy. The winning team were presented with prizes, and there was a raffle which raised a record sum for association funds. With thanks to everyone who helped organise this event and to compile and present the quiz.

10 January 2024 (Wednesday), Committee Meeting

Earlier events