The Musikverein Grombach Band from Bad Rappenau, Germany, has recently completed a very successful weekend visit to Llandrindod Wells.

The 30 members of the band with the Mayor of Bad Rappenau, Sebastian Frei, were part of a delegation of 50 people who were welcomed to the town by Cllr Laurence Weerdmeester-Price, Mayor of Llandrindod Wells.

About half of the visitors were hosted by local families whilst the others stayed in hotels.

On their first evening the visitors and hosts enjoyed meals together and explored the town.

Llandrindod Wells Twinning Association had organised a busy schedule of visits and concerts for the band during its short stay in Wales, starting with a trip to Brecon where the band played a concert in Brecon Cathedral to a large and appreciative audience.

Band members also enjoyed visiting the Brecon Beacons Food Festival in Brecon Market Hall where they were able to sample the best of Welsh food and drink.

On their return to Llandrindod the band members performed a concert at Holy Trinity Church, supported by the Llandrindod Wells Silver Band, under the direction of Sarah Freeman.

Local soprano Holly Richards also took part in the concert.

The band played a wide variety of music including German folk tunes, items from musicals and traditional German pieces.

Stephen Ashley, on behalf of Holy Trinity Church, gave a vote of thanks to all who had taken part in the concert and thanked the Grombach Band for enabling a retiring collection for the Church. This raised over £400.

On their final day, in glorious October sunshine, the German delegation travelled to Aberystwyth where they toured the seaside resort and enjoyed a fish and chips lunch.

In the afternoon the band performed a joint concert with Aberystwyth Silver Band in the Coliseum Theatre.

The German band members thoroughly enjoyed hearing a traditional Welsh silver band and being able to meet and talk with the Welsh musicians.

Cllr Talut Chandhri, Mayor of Aberystwyth, said it was good to welcome everyone from Bad Rappenau to share music together in the spirit of Twinning.

On their return to Llandrindod all visitors and hosts enjoyed an evening meal in the Lakeside Café.

Speeches of thanks and appreciation were given by Timo Appenzeller, conductor of Grombach Band and Sebatian Frei, Mayor of Bad Rappenau.

They said that members of the band and visiting supporters were overwhelmed at the hospitality given to them by the host families in Llandrindod.

Allan Curtis, Chairman of Llandrindod Twinning Association, thanked the band for coming to Wales and helping to build friendship and understanding through the exchange of music and cultural experiences.

He paid particular thanks to the host families who had made the visitors from Germany so welcome.