FRIENDS old and new from Kendal and the German town of Rinteln have been celebrating a decade of successful twinning.

Forty-six members of the Kendal-Rinteln Association and guests sat down to a celebration dinner at the Eagle and Child, Staveley, when a cut-glass whisky decanter and glasses were presented to Rinteln's Mike Middleton for all his work with the twinning over the years.

Among the guests were Mayor of Kendal Avril Dobson, deputy chairman of South Lakeland District Council Jean Ewing, and past mayors of Kendal who have been linked with the association.

The following day the German visitors enjoyed a tour of the Lake District, and Mr Middleton visited Ghyllside Primary School with the mayor, with a view to possibly setting up a twinning link with a Rinteln school in future.

In the evening members of the association and their German guests joined the parade at Kendal Torchlight Procession.

"The visitors were thrilled to have been invited," said association chairman Jim Quincey, "and were amazed at the number of people who turned out to watch, and the friendly reception they were given along the route."

Saturday was spent in and around Kendal with their hosts, and in the evening a reception was held at The Phoenix pub to meet with some of the ten Kendal residents who were born in the British Military Hospital in Rinteln.

The visitors finally left on Sunday morning to catch the Rotterdam ferry, after what they all described as "an all too short visit".

Meanwhile, a group from the Windermere and Bowness twin town of Diessen have been staying at the youth hostel in Ambleside.

Coun Jennifer Borer told members of Windermere Parish Council that the 14 visitors were part of an English club and had taken part in a guided historical walk around Troutbeck, taken a trip on the police warden's boat on Windermere, had a walk from Loughrigg to Grasmere and back and attended Kendal's torchlight procession.

l The winner of the weekend in Rinteln competition featured recently in The Westmorland Gazette was Mrs Dorothy Faraday, of Beetham, who gave the correct answer 'Wesergold', being the

name of the fruit drink company in Rinteln.

l K Shoes Male Voice Choir is to visit Rinteln next month.