Alzey Winzerfest - 1988

Visit to Alzey, Rheinhessen, Germany, 16th - 20th September 1988

To celebrate their 50th Anniversary Winzerfest, Alzey invited performing groups from all their twin towns to join them.

Harpenden (just north of St Albans) is their English twin; and since a good number of St Albans Morris Men live there, we were delighted to accept the invitation to spend a long weekend in the delightful and friendly town of Alzey.

Here, SAMM and their ladies are greeted at the airport with typical Alzey hospitality - featuring many bottles of their excellent wine!

(Photo by Sandy Glover 16/9/88)

Official Team Photo!
Chris Hillier
John King
Sandy Glover
Steve Prentice
Gordon Jones
Mike Bennett
John Price
Alan Hart
John Seaborn
Reggie Welbank

(Photo by Pam Glover 17/9/88)

Performance of "Ring o' Bells" in Alzey's main square.

(Photo by Pam Glover 17/9/88)

Sunday 18th September - the day of The Big Parade! Hard work, dancing and processing for two and a half hours? Not when you're continually fortified with mugs of local wine!

(Photo by a member of Hiel 'n' Toe)

SAMM compare notes with Hiel 'n' Toe - Harpenden's Scottish dancing group - about the stresses and strains of processional dancing.

(Photo by a member of Hiel 'n' Toe)

After which we borrowed their swords to do a version of the stick dance - Postman's Knock. (Or "Postie", as Hiel 'n' Toe called it.)

(Photo by a member of Hiel 'n' Toe)

John Price persuaded a local wine princess and the bandmaster of the Polish marching band to join him as the centrepiece of "The Rose", as SAMM danced round.

(Photo by Pam Glover)

We left Alzey with great memories and some lovely mementoes of the occasion. Neary two decades later, we recall with grateful thanks the great hospitality shown to us by the town of Alzey, and wish all our hosts continued health and happiness.

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