International visit York 2018

International Partner Clubs Visit York May 10-13 2018

The Club welcomed 28 visitors from the Erlangen Rotary Club in Germany, led by their President Andreas Knorr and one visitor, Bert Gietelink, from the Aubusson Rotary Club in France, to York on Thursday May 10th 2018.

The York Club has been twinned with Erlangen since 1984 and with Aubusson since 1988 with meetings taking place in each of the countries in turn on a bi-annual basis, creating many long standing friendships. The party were welcomed to York at a Reception at the Novotel by President Brian Joscelyne, Nigel Naish, Chair of the Club’s International Team and members of the Club.

Two full days of visits, excellent fellowship and good dining followed!!

Friday May 10th

A visit to Jorvik Centre in the morning gave our visitors a chance to experience the newly renovated museum with its seated "car" tour of the recreation of the Viking city of 1000 years ago.

click photos to enlarge

Jürgen Vetter with Bert Gietelink

Cornelia Gschneidinger
greets Josie Rich

(l-r) Ian Helby, Albrecht Winnacker, Heinz Gerhäuser, Dagmar Lindenbeck

Gathering in Coppergate

Patrizia Knorr with Dagmar Lindenbeck

With our guide outside Jorvik Centre

International Ladies' Table !

Rotary Lunch at the Novotel

(l-r) Bert Gietelink, Secretary Mike,
President Brian,

Präsident Andreas

Our guests had "free time" in the afternoon, before we assembled again for a Cruise on the River Ouse. Following the Cruise, we went on to an Italian Supper at the Olive Tree Restaurant

Evening Cruise along the Ouse, from Kings Staith

Italian Supper at the Olive Tree

Saturday May 11th

The following day, the party took a tour of the North York Moors and across to Whitby.

Travelling by coach to Whitby, with the driver skilfully negotiating tricky road works in the centre of the town, the group disembarked at Whitby Abbey, and were met by a "Story-Teller Guide" who enthralled the party with tales of mystery, intrigue and history as we descended 199 steps down into the town, stopping at the harbour (for tales of Bram Stoker and Dracula) and an original coaching inn.

A Fish Lunch was then taken at the newly opened Star Inn the Harbour opposite Whitby station.

click photos to enlarge

Listening to our "Whitby Story-Teller" on the headland above Whitby

Descending the 199 steps into Whitby

Whitby Story-Teller Rose Rylands

Whitby "White Horse and Griffin"
Coaching House dates from 1681

Visiting Whitby

Hansjörg Bosch carefully leads the
way down the 199 steps

Wilfried enjoying his beer at the Star Inn

Diana & Nigel Naish with Sonja & Kalus Bättchen

Lunch at The Star Inn the Harbour, Whitby

After lunch, a train journey from Whitby to Pickering on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, with steam engine "Repton" heading the train, was the culmination of the day's excursion which was thoroughly enjoyed by all

Horst-Rolf & Dagmar Lindenbeck

Steffen Stremme beside "Repton"

(front) Ian Helby, Bert Gietelink, Eva & Albrecht Winnacker

(front) Fritzie & Steffen Stremme, Hansjörg Bosch

Train trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway

The visit concluded with a delicious Gala Dinner in the splendid setting of the Dante Suite at York Racecourse.
The whole visit was blessed with wonderful hot sunny weather, enabling York to be shown-off at its best. It also renewed the strong bonds between the members of three Clubs. All too soon the visit came to an end with our visitors returning home on the Sunday, but with lasting memories of the old friendships which had been renewed and the many new ones created. We are looking forward to a visit to Coburg, Germany in 2020!

TopTable: Diana Naish, Bert Gietelink, Trish Joscelyne, President Brian, Präsident Andreas, Patrizia Knorr, Nigel Naish, Gill Tarbet (& Ian Tarbet took the photo!)