05/07/12…..Thame school celebrates 30 yrs of German exchange

CELEBRATIONS have been taking place this week at Lord Williams?s School, Thame, to mark the 30th anniversary of the school?s exchange with Friedrich-Ebert Gymnasium school in Bonn, Germany.

Yesterday, Wednesday, a tree planting ceremony with Thame’s Deputy Mayor, Peter Lambert took place, and a time capsule buried.

The 28 students from Bonn who took part in this year?s exchange returned home today after a nine day stay which included a visit to Warwick and Windsor Castles, London and Oxford.

In ‘The Tamensian’ for the year 1981-1982, regret was expressed that the exchange with a school in Marktoberdorf had to be abandoned after 15 years due to the high cost of transport to southern Germany.

Friedrich Ebert Gymnasium was willing to run an experimental exchange that year, 30 students came to Thame where they spent most of their days in school with their hosts.

The Lord Williams?s School party went out to Bonn in the July and visited Cologne, Koblenz, Bruhl, the Eiffel hills and several swimming pools. The report ended: ?We look forward eagerly to many more years of the exchange which seems sure to become a permanent fixture.”

Over the years approximately 600 students from each school have participated in the exchange. Year 12 students also used to take part and do work experience in Germany.

As the Head teacher of Lord Williams’s School, David Wybron, conluded: “The partnership has grown from strength to strength because of the dedication and hard work of staff in both schools. To see the obvious friendships between students is very special.”