MEMBERS of a twinning group have said auf Wiedersehen to their German counterparts at a farewell lunch held in Newquay.

Members of Restormel Twinning Association enjoyed a meal together at The Lakeside Café to mark the Restormel and Dithmarschen Twinning Association disbanding after 35 years.

The twinning link between Restormel and Dithmarschen in Schleswig Holstein was the brainchild of Ebby Anstey, who worked as a tourism officer for the then Restormel Borough Council.

The twinning developed as Restormel and Dithmarschen’s geography and economy are similar.

The Dithmarschen economy consists mainly of tourism, agriculture, and energy.

Tourism is concentrated in the north in Büsum and in the south in Friedrichskoog.

Initially some of the visitors would stay with local families during the annual group visits where sightseeing tours of places of interests and dinners were held to forge friendships.

The association will continue to hold social gatherings for members in Cornwall, but the annual official group visits will no longer take place.

Lesley Friel from the association said: “Members got together to mark the fact that the association, after surviving Brexit and the pandemic, has, sadly come to an end.

“At the same time, the many friendships formed between the people of both areas will continue and individual visits will still be made.

“The warmth of the welcome the groups always received on arrival and the interesting cultural visits and wonderful hospitality enjoyed will remain in the memory of all who had the good fortune to visit our partner area.

“By unanimous agreement of all members the residue in the Association’s account will be donated to Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust’s latest appeal. This charity was chosen partly because the group had made a very interesting visit to the Trevithick Downs Centre with German guests during Twinning Week in 2017.”