German editor gets on his bike to celebrate Malmesbury twinning anniversary
German newspaper editor Kai Struthoff has found an unusual way to travel to Malmesbury to celebrate a twinning anniversary – because he is coming by bicycle!
Kai, who edits the local newspaper in Bad Hersfeld – called the Hersfelder Zeitung – is cycling around 1,000 km (roughly 650 miles) from his home town to Malmesbury to mark the first anniversary of the official twinning of the two towns.
Malmesbury and Bad Hersfeld formally twinned in October 2024, and a delegation will be coming across from Germany to mark the first anniversary. But while the rest of the group will travel by coach, Kai has chosen to cycle.
He’s doing so to raise sponsorship to help fund a visit to Malmesbury from the youth section of the volunteer fire service in Bad Hersfeld.
“I think it is necessary to pass on the torch of friendship to a younger generation, but it is difficult to come to Malmesbury,” he said. “They had planned a trip but had to cancel it because of the high cost. So far I have raised about 1,000 Euros, with the help of the readers of Hersfelder Zeitung, and I hope to get a little more in.”
Malmesbury Mayor Cllr Stephen James, who is also President of the Malmesbury and District Twinning Association, said: “I'm looking forward to welcoming our friends from Bad Hersfeld. Meeting Kai and congratulating him for making such an effort to develop the relationship between our towns will make the event really special.”
Kai set off on Thursday 21st August, and his route is taking him across Germany and The Netherlands, sailing from Rotterdam to Harwich, and then cycling through the UK to arrive in Malmesbury on Friday 29th. There, he will join a reception for the Bad Hersfeld delegation in the Town Hall. On Saturday 30th, they will take part in Malmesbury Carnival celebrations.
Kai admits that, while he was a keen cyclist as a student, he’s let this interest lapse. But he has been in training and has been loaned an e-bike by a local cycle shop in Bad Hersfeld.
“I used to cycle a lot but now I am 62 and, as newspaper editor, I spend a lot of day sitting at my desk. But I have been in training because I’ll be cycling about 80 miles a day, for six or seven hours, but I think I will be OK.”
Kai is carrying a small tent and mat with him, as he plans to camp along the way. He also hopes his cycle will inspire others.
“I’d like other people to cycle these routes, because the whole ride to England – whether you go via France or via Holland – is beautiful, and England is a beautiful country. And there will be constant reporting about my trip in my newspaper.”
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