Page 1

MALVERN

COMMUNITY

PARTNERSHIP

SIGNED IN OCTOBER 2012

BETWEEN MAYOR IAN HOPWOOD, MAYOR OF MALVERN

AND MAYOR Zdeněk Král OF Mariánské Lázně

Page 2

Acknowledgements:

Andrew Dennison, ML Co-ordinator

Andrew Jamieson

Barbora Tinterova, Manager ML TIC

Bruce Osborne

Caroline Bovey

Chris Martin

Cora Weaver

David Street

Denise Preston

Dr John Harcup OBE

Dr Petr Somol

Dr Vladimir Kajlik, ML Co-ordinator

Ed Davies

Elizabeth Adlam

Ernie Kay MBE

Felicity and David Ebsworth

Fraser and Rosemary McNeil-Watson

Gina Butler

Ian and Janet Hopwood

Jim Murphy, Malvern Rotary

Julian and Helen I’Anson

Laurie Gregory

Linda Smith, Chamber of Commerce

Marcela Hayes

Margaret Bray

Margaret and Carleton Tarr

Mark Young

Oona Muirhead

Philip Rumney

Radek Snajdr, Olympia Hotel

Renata Palmer

Richard Chapman, Town Clerk, Malvern

Town Council

Rosemary and Tony Whalley

Simon Smith, Econ Dev Mgr MHDC

Steve Bray

Zdeněk Král, Mayor of ML

October 2012 in Malvern

May 2013 in Mariánské Lázně

Page 3

How Did It Start? ..................................................................................................................................... 4

The Malvern Connection ......................................................................................................................... 4

Malvern Signing 2012 ............................................................................................................................. 5

Mariánské Lázně Signing May 2013 ........................................................................................................ 6

May Visit 2014 ........................................................................................................................................ 8

May 2015 ................................................................................................................................................ 9

July 2015 – Visit of the Canzona Choir to Malvern ............................................................................... 11

November 2015 .................................................................................................................................... 12

May 2016 .............................................................................................................................................. 12

March 2017 ........................................................................................................................................... 15

May 2017 .............................................................................................................................................. 15

What is it for? ........................................................................................................................................ 16

1. Cultural links.......................................................................................................................... 16

2. Commercial Partnerships ...................................................................................................... 16

3. Sporting Opportunities ......................................................................................................... 16

4. Holidays ................................................................................................................................. 16

5. Wellness ................................................................................................................................ 16

6. Youth Exchanges ................................................................................................................... 16

7. Fellowship ............................................................................................................................. 16

8. Educational Exchanges .......................................................................................................... 17

Five Year Plan ........................................................................................................................................ 18

Visit To Jesenik ...................................................................................................................................... 20

MONTECATINI TERME ........................................................................................................................... 22

Contents

Page 4

How Did It Start?

For a number of years, there had been discussion with the Town and District Council and between the Civic Society and the Spa Association about the possibility of inviting a European town with a similar profile to Malvern to have a twinning arrangement.

Twinning was already in place between Malvern Priory and Wolmirstadt, near Magdeburg and all the senior schools had their exchange towns.

Malvern was the only town in the area that had no civic links.

Much discussion ensued and a shortlist was drawn up; advice was sought from residents such as Rosemary and Tony Whalley who had experience in twinning.

The options were Senlis, north of Paris, which was convenient but not very spa oriented or Mariánské Lázně in Czech Bohemia which has a strong wellness tradition as well as Royal links via Edward VII.

A visit was made to the World Travel Mart in London to meet the representatives from Mariánské Lázně.

It was subsequently discovered that, in 1989, there had been a visit from a choir from Mariánské Lázně to West Malvern arranged by Laurie Gregory and he brought his experience to the committee.

Twenty five members of the Spa Association, Town Council, Rotary and the Civic Society made a visit to the Czech Republic in April 2011.

Arrangements were made with the manager of the Tourist Office, Barbora Tinterova who put us in touch with Dr Vladimir Kajlik, a retired academic with excellent English, who liaised with the Mayor’s office and gave us much advice on our stay.

During the stay at the Reitenberger Hotel a number of excursions were arranged with a guide to Franciskovy Lazne, Karlovy Vary, Becov, Loket and Plzen to visit the brewery.

The Malvern Connection

One of the problems with the choice of Mariánské Lázně as a twin town was that it was not easy to reach – 900 miles by road and 120 miles from Prague.

One of the early press reports caught the attention of Nuala and Mark Young who lived locally and had a house in Lázně Kynžvart a few miles from Mariánské Lázně; they visited regularly and were able to liaise with the mayor and council and the tourist office.

Metternich Castle, Lazne Kynsvart

Page 5

Malvern Signing 2012

The Malvern Town Council approved the formal agreement between the two towns in April 2012 and a small party from Mariánské Lázně visited Malvern from 19th to 21st October of that year. They we given a visit to many of the attractions of the area including the Golf Club and the Showground. The formal agreement was signed in the Great Malvern Hotel on Saturday 21st October.

Page 6

Mariánské Lázně Signing May 2013

One important element of the visit was that Bowling Green Motors in Powick loaned a Skoda car for the Mayor to drive in aid of local charities. He raised £5,000.

The signing ceremony took place in the Catering College with the food and entertainment provided by the students

Page 7

Page 8

May Visit 2014 In May 2014 a large party from Malvern

visited Mariánské Lázně to attend the

Opening of the Spa Season. We stayed in

the Olympia Hotel and were included in

the events including the Casino Concert,

Opening Service, buffet lunch and, not

least the Opening Ceremony itself where

Mayor Hopwood gave an address from

the citizens of Malvern ably translated by

Andrew Jameson.

.

.

Page 9

May 2015

Page 10

Page 11

July 2015 – Visit of the Canzona Choir to Malvern

Children‘s Choir CANZONA conductor: Olimpiu Cretan

piano accompanist: Marie Skalková

Recorder Quartet

conductor: Karel Hovorka

Saturday 11th July Christ Church, Avenue Road, Malvern*

Sunday 12th July St Mary’s Church, Kington

Sunday 12th July Bands in the Park, Priory Park

Tuesday 14th July St Michael’s Church, Ledbury

Wednesday 15th July St Mary Magdalene, Twyning

Page 12

November 2015 The Mayor of Mariánské Lázně and his two deputy mayors and their partners came to Malvern with

Andrew Dennison who had volunteered to be the ML Co-ordinator. They were taken round on a

number of visit including the Showground and the Innovations centre at the Wyche.

A small reception was held in the Great Malvern Hotel attended by the Mayor of Malvern, Coun

Julian I’Anson and the Chairman of the District Council, Coun Barbara Williams.

May 2016 Eighteen members visited for

the Spa Opening and enjoyed

the hospitality of the town

including the concert, the

service taken by the Abbot of

Tepla and the celebration

lunch. We were well looked

after by Barbora Tinterova. A

number of visits were arranged

to Becov, Cheb and Franciscovy

Lazne.

Page 13

Page 14

Page 15

March 2017 Andrew Dennison visited to meet some of the contact people in

Malvern including the Town Council with a view to developing the

Five Year Plan from the Mariánské Lázně perspective.

He met Coun Cynthia Palmer, the current Mayor of Malvern.

May 2017

Page 16

What is it for?

1. Cultural links The twinning movement was set up after WWII

to encourage friendship between the fractured

countries of Europe; it was principally aimed at

reciprocal visit of like-minded people,

sometimes based on Church attendance, and

with an emphasis on youth groups.

In the case of Malvern and Mariánské Lázně ,

there is a strong musical tradition in each town. We were particularly pleased to see the Canzona

choir in 2015 and plans are already afoot for Malvern choirs to visit the Czech Republic in 2018.

2. Commercial Partnerships One difference between the traditional twinning arrangement and the link with Mariánské Lázně is

that, in addition to being underpinned by the cultural links, it is a Community Partnership with an

emphasis on commercial links. Malvern is a well-balanced community with a strong and important

Science Park and it is hoped that we may be able to pass on some of our commercial expertise.

A visit is already planned with ElectraMetal – a maker of electrical wiring for cars.

3. Sporting Opportunities There are many opportunities to share sporting activities and discussions are already under way for

a golf tournament; the Royal Mariánské Lázně Golf Club was founded by Edward VII when he was

Prince of Wales and retains considerable pride in its royal designation.

Other potential links include football and rugby.

4. Holidays Mariánské Lázně is located in Bohemia, used to be called the Sudetenland, an area of low hills and

forests – ideal for walking and this is another aspect of the Partnership that we are promoting. Apart

from the spa heritage, there are many small historical towns and villages nearby. Travellers would

normally arrive via Prague or Nuremberg and could spend some time at those cities en route.

5. Wellness 2018 marks the two hundredth anniversary of the building of the modern town of Mariánské Lázně

and the development of the hydrotherapy industry. The Water Cure in Malvern died out at the end

of the C19 and there is considerable scope for learning from the way in which wellness treatments

are promoted in Mariánské Lázně.

6. Youth Exchanges Andrew Dennison, our man in Mariánské Lázně, is involved with the Scouts and Guides and we hope

that this will lead to reciprocal visits in due course.

High Barn/Elements

7. Fellowship Rotary and the lions are represented in the area – the Lions in Mariánské Lázně and the nearest

Rotary Club is in Karlovy Vary.

Page 17

8. Educational Exchanges Mariánské Lázně has a world class catering college and we hope that reciprocal visits can be

arranged with the Worcester College.

We have also approached the upper schools in the Malvern area to see if they might be interested in

exchange visits; the interest is limited as most school exchanges relate to the languages being taught

and Czech is not top of the list.

Page 18

Five Year Plan

Malvern Community Partnership

Malvern and Mariánské Lázně working

together

COMMERCE – EDUCATION – CULTURE

5 Year Plan

January 2017. Liaison visit to M.L. 16th to 20th (M.Y) Organising of Car/Bike rally in M.L. town

centre and at Long Speedway Track in M.L. Organising Choir/Dancers visit in July 2018.

Arranging visit of Catering College students from M.L. to Malvern for language tuition and to

gain knowledge of U.K. catering industry.

February 2017. Liaison visit to Malvern (A.D.) Arranging Scouts/Guides reciprocal visits.

Accommodating at Warren Oak Centre, Staplow or Highball Centre Hanley Swan.

Arrange Golf Tournament. Worcestershire Golf Club/Royal Golf Club Mariánské Lázně/Royal

Golf Club Bad Homburg. (A.D. and P.S.)

Visit to Prague and M.L of three teaching staff from Malvern St. James from 10th to 13th

February to investigate school visit and performances for July 2018.

March 2017. Liaison visit to M.L. (M.Y.)

April 2017. Two week visit of Mark Cook of Skoda Owners Club of G.B. to Elektrometall s.r.o.

in M.L. for English teaching and induction in Electric Vehicle technology. (M.Y.)

May 2017. Community Partnership representatives, Mr and Mrs Laurie Gregory, at Opening

of the Spa season in M.L.

JUNE 2017. Dr. Petr Somol in Malvern during “Midsummer Malvern” event to give lecture

dedicated to his father Dr. Antonin Somol. “Mariánské Lázně, past, present and future”. Visit

by Dr. Somol to MRATHS Exhibition at Malvern College and Wyche Innovation Centre.

Possible short season of Czech films to coincide with visit of Dr. Petr Somol.

Possible visit of Mayor of M.L. Mr. Peter Tresnak and colleagues to pursue links with Three

Counties Showground. (M.Y. and A.D.)

May 2018. Official visit of Malvern’s Mayor to Opening of the Spa Season in M.L.

July 2018. Visit of choir and/or musicians and dancers from Malvern to M.L. as part of the

public performance programme held during the summer. Possible visit of Cllr. Ian Hopwood

and Mrs. Janet Hopwood to M.L. on behalf of Malvern Community Partnership to plant

commemorative Black Pear tree in M.L. Plan to provide item of street furniture. Letterbox /

Page 19

Phone Box / Street Sign. (I.H.) Particularly apt as it will take place during M.L.’s celebration

of 200th Year Anniversary.

July 2019. Visit of choir/folk dancers/Jazz Band from the Fredryk Chopin Music

Conservatoire in M.L. repeating the success of the visit of Canzona Childrens’ Choir and

Recorder Quartet to Malvern in June 2015. (M.T. and C.T.)

Various dates. Naming of roads on new housing developments in Malvern. Marienbad*

Way and Bohemia Way. (I.H.) Arranging of photographic display in Edith Walk and Church

Walk, of aspects of life in M.L. with reciprocal display in M.L. featuring Malvern. (M.Y. and

Z.K.)

Conclusion. The official and ceremonial links between Malvern and M.L. are being replaced

by events developing from the Community Partnership’s desire to promote the aims of

Commerce, Education and Culture developed over the last five years. In future official visits

are planned on a two year alternating cycle. Commencing with the intended visit of the

Mayor of Marianske Lazne to Malvern in June 2017, followed by the visit of Malvern’s

Mayor to M.L. in 2018 for the Opening of the Spa Season.

STOP PRESS. The Hills Singers have confirmed their visit to Marianske Lazne during

July 2018. The town's 200th Anniversary.

Initials. (M.Y.) Mark Young, (A.D.) Andrew Dennison, (P.S.) Petr Somol, (I.H.) Ian Hopwood,

(C.P.) Community Partnership, (R.S.) Roger Sutton, (M.T.) and (C.T.) Margaret and Carleton

Tarr, (Z.K.) Zdeněk Král, former mayor of M.L.

*Marienbad is the German name for M.L. and perfectly acceptable as a substitute where

the heavily accented Czech alternative is impractical.

Page 20

Visit To Jesenik May 2018

Dr and Mrs John Harcup visited Jesenik in the foothills of the Tatra Mountains and the birthplace of

Dr Priessnitz – the doctor who treated Dr Wilson in 1841.

Page 21

Page 22

MONTECATINI TERME

Some notes on a visit

to Montecatini

Terme in northern

Italy in August 2017.

Montecatini Terme is

twinned with

Mariánské Lázně.

The spa facilities are

located around a

central park; there

are seventeen spa

treatment centres in

addition to the

municipal spa.

Page 23

Page 24

Page 25

The water tasting hall – seven types of water for different complaints.

Page 26

New conference facility in the Spa building

Page 27

© MALVERN COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

The Colonnade

Marianske Lazne