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Advertiser keeps Eleonore in touch

Gareth Parker
25/ 5/2005

LIFE in Monkeytown is only ever a read away for a Peine visitor who made her annual trip to Heywood last week.

Eleonore Biermann, chairman of Friends of Heywood, has had many a happy holiday in the UK in the past, but a special place in her heart is reserved for the little town nestled between Rochdale and Bury.

Flying over with nine others from their picturesque German hometown for a week-long stay, Eleonore always makes sure she is kept up to date with what's happening in her favourite part of the north west thanks to a former member of Friends of Peine.

Clifford Bell, whose wife used to be secretary of the group, sends Eleanore the Heywood Advertiser every couple of weeks.

And in return she always make sure he has a goodie bag crammed full of German sausages, mustard, coffee and sweets.

"I love Heywood. The people are so friendly and I see the town as almost like a second home," said Eleonore, who could put many an Englishman to shame with her excellent grasp of the language.

During her stay, apart from the excursions with the rest of the Friends of Heywood group, Eleonore was also treated by her hosts, John and Pamela Caldecott, who live in Milnrow, to a real taste of England's bygone era on a day out to Uppermill, near Oldham.

"The villages in the north west are beautiful and in Uppermill we even got to watch some morris dancers perform," she said.

The German group are all staying with members of the Friends of Peine at their Heywood homes and one of the visitors has just as much of a vested interest in newspapers as her friend, Eleonore.

Berhild Fassmann-Hanusch works as a freelance writer for the Peine Allgemeine Zeitung, the local paper in Peine, and was impressed with the Heywood Advertiser when she saw a copy for the first time.

"It's a really good read and packed with news about what's happening in the town, which is great for a visitor as you can get to know what's happening,' she said.

The group flew back home from Manchester airport on Sunday after a trip which took in the sights of Stratford upon Avon, Lytham St Annes, Heywood and Rochdale, where they were treated to a special concert by the Rochdale Youth Band.