Forthcoming

9–16 June 2026, Tuesday to Tuesday:
Visit to Eppingen, German language and culture

This used to be called the ‘language course’, but we thought it sounded too formal. However, the programme will be the same as always – informal classes and discussions during the weekday mornings, tailored to participants’ level of German (from zero to fluent). The rest of the time is devoted to outings and other activities with our German friends. This will include an overnight trip to Tübingen at the weekend.

Thursday 25 June 2026, 12 noon: Stammtisch – pub get-together

Details were circulated on 7 May and 1 June. Please contact the organiser, Graciela Schar, by 19 June if you would like to come since the venue needs to know numbers.

Sunday 5 July 2026: Epping Town Show

The Epping twinners will have a stand here as usual.

Monday 27 July 2026: Committee meeting

Wednesday 5 August 2026 (tbc), 7 pm UK time (20:00 CET): international Zoom meeting

Date to be confirmed. The Zoom link will be circulated to members a few days before the event.

Autumn 2026: Long-weekend visit to UK by Eppingen twinners

This is expected to take place in the latter part of September – watch this space nearer the time!

Sunday 11 October 2026: Copped Hall Apple Day

The Epping twinners had a promotional stand at this event for the first time in 2025, which proved very successful. We therefore plan to do this again in 2026.

Saturday 21 November 2026, evening: AGM & social event

The annual general meeting will be followed by a meal and a talk.

Previous events

2026

Monday 1 June 2026: Committee meeting (Zoom)

Sunday 31 May 2026: Kaffee und Kuchen

Our annual coffee-and-cakes afternoon took place at Julie’s Café by Stonards Hill Recreation Ground, Epping. The event was well attended by members of the association and friends on a pleasant sunny afternoon.

A selection of home-baked cakes and pastries was provided by the members. These were served by Barbara Scruton and Lis Goodwin, and Julie Turrell plied us with teas and coffees.

Attendees shared memories of recent events, in particular the successful visit by the Eppingen town band and our friends from Eppingen. We also looked forward to the visit by some of our members to Eppingen in June.

13–16 May 2026: Eppingen Town Band visits Epping

The Stadtkapelle Eppingen (Eppingen Town Band) made a welcome return visit to Epping at the invitation of their own twinning partners, Epping Forest Band. Ten members of the Eppingen-Epping twinning association travelled with them. All 55 visitors stayed in a hotel in Harlow, and they enjoyed a day trip to London together on the Thursday.

The Eppingen band gave two performances in Epping on Friday 15 May. In the morning they played in the High Street, with members of our own association among the audience. The event included the ceremonial tapping of a barrel of ‘Palmbräu’ beer brewed in Eppingen. There is a video, courtesy of everythingeppingforest, at
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dz7My7lCcA

The second performance took place during the evening. This was a joint event with Epping Forest Band in St John’s Church, and it provided an opportunity for our own twinners to meet with members of both bands as well as our friends from the Eppingen-Epping association. The event was also attended by the Mayor of Epping, Razia Sharif, who was presented with a gift from Eppingen. After separate performances by each band, there was a grand finale when both bands played together in a rendering of Barbie World and Sweet Caroline – with the audience clapping along and rewarding the bands with a standing ovation.

With thanks to the organisers in both bands for making this an unforgettable event for everyone involved.

There are more photos on the Epping Forest Band website at
www.eppingforestband.co.uk/gallery
and on the Stadtkapelle Eppingen website at
www.stadtkapelle-eppingen.de/aktuelles/unvergessliche-tage-voller-musik-und-freundschaft-in-epping

Thursday 23 April 2026, 12 noon: Stammtisch – pub get-together

There was another good turnout for our monthly pub lunch.

Wednesday, 22 April 2026, 7 pm UK time (20:00 CET): international Zoom meeting

A dozen or so members met for our occasional Zoom get-together. It was an opportunity to catch up socially as well as discuss the various activities that are planned for the next few months.

Tuesday, 21 April 2026: Committee meeting

Thursday 26 March 2026, 12 noon: Stammtisch – pub get-together

Like last month, there were 16 members present.

Thursday 26 February 2026, 12 noon: Stammtisch – pub get-together

Sixteen members gathered for the monthly get-together of the UK end of the twinning.

Saturday 7 February 2026, 7 pm: Quiz night with fish & chips

This year’s fundraising quiz night took place at Theydon Bois Scout Hut, which was a new venue for us. Members of the association were joined by family, friends and other people from the local community. Eight tables battled it out, with prizes for the winning team.

A timely delivery of fish and chips provided a welcome break at the halfway point.

With thanks to Lis and David Goodwin for organising and presenting the quiz, and Derek Humphrey for the raffle.

Wednesday 4 February 2026, 7 pm UK time: international Zoom meeting

Our first Zoom meeting of the year gave members in both countries an opportunity to catch up and talk about the events planned for 2026.

Thursday, 22 January 2026, 12 noon: Stammtisch

An enjoyable pub get-together to start off our activities for the new year.

Wednesday 7 January 2026: Committee meeting (on Zoom)

2025

Monday 29 December 2025, 12 noon: Stammtisch

The Epping association rounded off another successful year with a Stammtisch at The Bull in Theydon Bois. Twenty members gathered to eat, drink and raise a glass to our partnership with Eppingen. We are now looking forward to meeting again with friends old and new at events throughout 2026 in the UK and Germany.

A big thankyou to Graciela Schar for initiating our Stammtische over a year ago now, and for organising them so efficiently since then. They take place monthly, unless there is a major event during the month.

5–8 December 2025: Christmas Tree Festival

The twinning association once again had a tree at this year’s Christmas Tree Festival in St John’s Church, Epping.
www.eppinganglicans.org.uk

The association’s tree was one of about 60 on display, each decorated by a different community organisation or enterprise. Like last year, our tree was decorated by Barbara Lane and Joy Eldridge. This time, the theme was ‘Epping-Eppingen colours of Christmas’, with decorations and streamers in the colours of both nations. The festival, which always takes place over a long weekend in early December, also features musical performances, Christmas items for sale, and refreshments.

Wednesday 3 December 2025, 7 pm UK time (20:00 CET): International Zoom Meeting

There were 19 of us at our pre-Christmas Zoom meeting, including the three new UK committee members. We had a general catch up, talked about the activities planned for 2026 on both sides of the Channel, and looked forward to the festive season.

Saturday 22 November 2025: AGM and social event

This took place at Epping URC hall. The Annual General Meeting included committee elections and presentation of accounts. There was also a report by the chairperson, Barbara Scruton, on another successful year for the twinning association, and a vote of thanks for those who had contributed to this.

Once the official business was out of the way, members and their guests enjoyed a delicious two-course meal prepared as usual by volunteers from the association. (The desserts included Apfelstrudel – check this out in the recipe section of the website!) There was then an interesting and insightful talk about HMS Belfast given by Luke Knott. Luke is a volunteer guide on this former warship that is now moored permanently on the River Thames in London as a museum of naval history. www.iwm.org.uk/visits/hms-belfast

In case you’re wondering about the cuddly toy in the photos, it’s an ‘Eppinger Mischdkrabbe’, which means ‘Eppingen dung raven’ in the local dialect. Eppingen was historically an agricultural community, and the many farmyards had dung heaps where ravens and crows would forage for food. So ‘Mischdkrabbe’ became a nickname for the people of the town, and one that they are now quite proud of. The toy was a gift from an Eppingen twinner, and it has since become an unofficial mascot of our association in Epping.

Sunday 9 November 2025, 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.

Thursday 30 October 2025, 12 noon: Stammtisch – pub get-together

Thursday 16 October 2025: Committee meeting

Sunday 12 October 2025: Copped Hall Apple Day

This well-attended event was blessed with good weather. As well as the extensive grounds, the organisers had opened the Hall itself, its famous walled garden and the orchards where many varieties of apples are grown. The apples were being sold to raise funds for the Copped Hall Trust in its continued renovation work. There were many events during the day, some focused on apple production and others including a classic car display, King Henry VIII’s court, and a performance by Harlow Brass Band.

The twinning stand was one of about 40 on the site, and its prime location meant it attracted a large number of visitors and generated a lot of interest in the association. So we look forward to welcoming some new members! Thanks are due to Derek Humphrey who organised the stand here and at the Town Show, and the other twinners who helped out.

You can find out more about Copped Hall at www.coppedhalltrust.org.uk and on our ‘Epping’ page.

25–29 September 2025 (Thursday to Monday): autumn visit to Eppingen

The programme included a day trip to Heidelberg.

For more details including photos, please click on the image on the homepage.

Wednesday 3 September 2025, 7 pm UK time: International Zoom Meeting

Thursday 28 August 2025, 12 noon: Stammtisch – pub get-together

Wednesday 27 August 2025: Committee Meeting

26–27 July 2025: Eppingen Altstadtfest (Old Town Festival)

Eleven twinners from Epping travelled to Germany for this event. As usual, Epping Forest Band were also there at the invitation of their own twinning partner, Eppingen’s town band. The Altstadtfest takes place every other year, and has representation from Eppingen’s other partnerships in France and Hungary as well as the UK.

For a full description of this event plus photos, click on the image on the homepage.

There are more photos in local media, see
www.stimme.de/bilder/traditionelles-altstadtfest-eppingen-2025-gal-148243
www.eppingen.org/de/fotos/2025/07/25.-Altstadtfest-im-Regen.php

Sunday 6 July 2025: Epping Town Show

The Town Show is organised by Epping Town Council, and takes place every year in early July at Stonards Hill Recreation Ground. The event features arena displays, music performances, entertainment, food stalls and much more. The twinning association had a stand as usual, and this year we were joined by visitors from Eppingen.

For a full description of this event plus photos, click on the image on the homepage.

Wednesday 2 July 2025, 7 pm UK time: international Zoom meeting

This was our occasional get-together on Zoom to discuss forthcoming events and catch up generally.

Thursday 26 June 2025, 6.30 pm: Stammtisch

Our pub get-together this month was early evening, rather than lunchtime as recent ones have been.

14–21 May 2025: Language Course in Epping

An informal course in English language and British culture for our visitors from Eppingen. Teaching sessions were during the weekday mornings only – the rest of the time was devoted to excursions and social events, including a farewell meal.

For more details including photos, please click on the image on the homepage.

8–11 May 2025: visit from Sinsheim Rotarians

Eppingen does not have its own Rotary Club; the nearest one is in nearby Sinsheim. The Sinsheim Rotarians have their own twinning arrangement with Epping Rotary Club and Epping Forest Rotary Club.

Further details of the Rotary twinning can be found in our Links page.

The visit celebrated the 35th anniversary of this initiative. On the Friday the Rotarians visited the Houses of Parliament, and on Saturday there was a gala dinner at Down Hall Hotel near Bishop’s Stortford. The Epping-Eppingen Association were invited to the dinner and were represented by Barbara Scruton and Humphrey Wheeler.

Thursday 1 May 2025, 12 noon: Stammtisch – pub get-together

There was another good turnout for this Stammtisch event, attended by people who had been members of the association for over 40 years, less than four weeks, and everything in between. It was a good chance to catch up generally, and on this occasion also to discuss plans for the forthcoming language course in Epping.

Tuesday 29 April 2025: Committee Meeting

Thursday 27 March 2025, 12 noon: Stammtisch – pub get-together

Our second Stammtisch of the year – there was a good turnout as usual. Another new member was able to join us on this occasion – in fact these events are proving an excellent way of introducing new people to the Epping association in a convivial setting.

Wednesday 26 March 2025, 7 pm UK time: International Zoom Meeting

This was our regular Zoom catch up between members in Epping and Eppingen. It attracted 17 people, including a new member on the Epping side.

Wednesday 5 March 2025: Committee Meeting

Thursday 27 February 2025, 12.00: Stammtisch – pub get-together

Our first Stammtisch of the year was our largest so far. There were 19 of us, including two new members. Everyone enjoyed catching up with friends old and new, and looking forward to our planned activities for the year.

Saturday 1 February 2025: Quiz Night and Fish & Chips

Over 70 people – members of the association, their guests and other people from the local community – attended this event at Theydon Bois Village Hall near Epping. There were nine tables, each with a team of around eight people. A well-timed delivery of fish & chips during the interval provided a welcome break from all the brainwork. There was also a raffle, the proceeds of which helped swell the association’s coffers. The event was ably organised and presented by Lis and David Goodwin, so our thanks to them and everyone else who helped make this another successful and enjoyable occasion.

Wednesday 29 January 2025, 7 pm UK time: International Zoom Meeting

Fifteen or so members from Epping and Eppingen met online to catch up on the news and talk about forthcoming activities.

Wednesday 8 January 2025: Committee Meeting

Earlier events