More than 40 young people from Wrexham Scouts have returned from a memorable trip to Germany, marking 50 years of friendship between Wrexham Scouts and the Ring Rote Erde Pfadfinder in Märkischer Kreis.
A group of Scouts and adult leaders travelled to Germany to celebrate the long-standing relationship, which has seen numerous exchange visits take place over the past five decades. The friendship is rooted in the twinning links between Wrexham and Märkischer Kreis, established as part of wider efforts across Europe to foster international understanding and cooperation in the years following the Second World War.
Over the years, the partnership has extended far beyond exchange visits. In 2018, to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War, Scouts from Wrexham and Hemer exchanged messages of friendship and remembrance, reflecting on the importance of peace, mutual understanding, and international cooperation. The exchange highlighted the values that have underpinned the relationship between the two groups for half a century.
During the week-long visit, the Scouts enjoyed a varied programme of cultural, historical, and recreational activities. Highlights included visits to Altena Castle, the city of Köln, Dortmund Stadium, and the Florianturm tower in Dortmund, as well as a day at the popular Phantasialand theme park. The group also spent time with their counterparts from Hemer Scouts, strengthening friendships old and new.
Scout Ewan Hilton, 14 from Wrexham said: “This trip to Germany meant a lot to me as it is a very unique experience with so many memories. Like meeting the mayor and receiving a plaque from the German scouts, celebrating the 50-year friendship Wrexham and Hemer scouts have had. My favourite part had to be meeting up with the Hemer scout group and making friends despite a language barrier.”
The delegation was welcomed by several local dignitaries, including Ralf Schwarzkopf, Mayor of Märkischer Kreis, Christian Schweitzer, Mayor of Hemer, and Joshua Leiber, leader of Hemer Scout Group.
The trip was organised by Andrew McGregor-Andrew, who emphasised the importance of maintaining international links through Scouting.
He said: “Maintaining our friendship with Hemer Scouts is important because it gives young people the chance to build lasting international connections, broaden their perspectives, and realise that, no matter where we come from, the values of Scouting brings us together.”
The visit marked a significant milestone for both Scout groups and follows several years during which Wrexham Scouts had sadly not travelled to Germany. Despite this pause, the connection between the two organisations has remained strong, with the partnership continuing to thrive after 50 years of exchanges, shared experiences, and a commitment to international friendship.
The friendship is set to continue, with Hemer Scouts hoping to make a return visit to Wrexham within the next year.
The anniversary trip has reinforced the enduring value of international Scouting, providing young people with opportunities to experience different cultures, develop confidence, and build friendships that cross national boundaries.
Messages exchanged in 2018 on the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One:
There’s a saying: History repeats itself.
As we commemorate the end of World War I 100 years ago with you today—even if we’re not gathered in the same place—this saying may frighten us, but it also serves as a warning. For history, with all its dark chapters, must not repeat itself. We all know what happened 21 years after the end of World War I.
A better saying is that of our former Federal President, Richard von Weizsäcker, who essentially said that “one must know history to live in the present and to shape the future.”
We act accordingly: We remember in order to be reminded, to learn from the mistakes we have made in history. We live in the present, which means we cultivate our shared friendship with you (a friendship not only between Scouts but also between nations) in order to shape the future—in other words, to preserve peace.
Since none of you can be with us and none of us with you on this momentous day, we have taken 1 kg of soil from our hometown as a symbol of the friendship between our Scout groups.
We will send this to you shortly, asking you to mix it with soil from the immediate vicinity of your Scout hut. Please send us 1 kg of your soil in return.
We will then do the same.
We hope that the friendship between our groups will last for many years to come and that reciprocal visits will take place in the years to come.
Furthermore, we hope that we will never again have to ask ourselves why our peoples shot at each other.
Be Prepared.
The Scouts of the Red Earth Ring Hemer
To the Scouts of Hemer…
We stand together this weekend remembering all those that have fallen on both sides, maybe not together physically, but together in thought and hope.
One hundred years since the guns fell silent, there are still those who have not learned from history. It is more important now than at any stage in our history that we show young people that they have a responsibility to shape their own futures and the future of all.
The work of the Scouts is vital – we must use our friendship across nations to challenge those who wish to put up walls between peoples, celebrate our similarities, and thus keep the peace.
We will accept and cherish your kind gift of earth and mix it together with ours here, and gladly send some of ours in exchange, forever linking our lands as the people who live upon it are linked.
One of our Scouts, Micha aged 16 has this message:
“It was a great tragedy with the amount of lives taken and effected. We mourn them wholeheartedly and should spread the message of peace as far as we can.”
May we continue to live together in peace and friendship.
Wrexham Scouts
