Visitors from Kalundborg

Our Kalundborg Friends

Initiated in 1978, the 10th Rotary fellowship exchange between the Rotary Clubs of Royal Wootton Bassett & District and Kalundborg (Denmark) took place from 21 to 25 April, 2016. Nine Royal Wootton Bassett and District Rotary Club families hosted our eighteen Danish guests for the long weekend.

After flying into Gatwick on Thursday afternoon our guests were welcomed at the Gerald Buxton Sports facility by our Club President (in Danish), the Mayor, his Consort, our Town Crier and many of the Club members. Our Danish visitors were then taken to the hosts’ homes for a relaxing dinner and a chance to get to know each other.

On Friday morning, hosts and guests attended a formal Civic Welcome at the Town Hall. The Mayor gave a very interesting talk on how Royal Wootton Bassett was awarded its Royal Charter and a little of the history of the town. After a short walk by the Church and the older houses in town, it was off to the Cross Keys for a pub lunch. A guided tour of the Steam Museum was organised for the afternoon, with some time for shopping at the Outlet Centre. All enjoyed the social evening, at the Bell Inn at Purton Stoke with skittles, drinks, and good old English Pie & Chips,

Saturday saw most of the visitors and their hosts travel to Bristol to visit the SS Great Britain (well worth it!) and walk around the Harbourside, stopping off for a welcome drink on the Grain Barge. Other hosts took their guests to the Cotswolds or Stonehenge or Avebury. In the evening, different Rotarians hosted dinners at their home for the visitors and their hosts, where much wine was consumed and one of the popular topics of conversation seemed to be GB leaving the EU!

The Sunday was left open for hosts to entertain their guests. Some went to Bath, others to Avebury, while some went on a canal trip.

On Sunday evening an inter-Club dinner was held at the Wiltshire Golf Club, with the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy Swing Band playing and singing wonderfully for an hour before dinner.

By the time the Kalundborg visitors left on Monday morning, old friendships had been renewed and new ones established. Such was the enjoyment of the visit that we have already been invited to visit Kalundborg in 2018.

The four four days were hugely enjoyable. Our guests thoroughly enjoyed themselves with one couple commenting: “We saw the England we love. Thank you for that”.