Another year of uncertainty as Brexit loomed over us. 2018 we continued with our internationalist projects and hoped that some good would come of it.
4-9 February Ian Luckhurst takes a group of Bridgwater College students to Krakow in Poland and to Tatranska Lomnica in Slovakia. The group visits Auschwitz, the Schindler factory and links up with a Polish school plus visits Milos Salus pub in Lomnica. There they fight snow wars re-enacting battles directed by Cecil B De Smedley
23-27 February small group of Bridgwater twinners visit Priverno for the festival
17-24 April Maria Carla and Priverno students stay in Bridgwater for a week
29 April -6 May Yvette’s Voice of the People group visit Montenegro and link with Danijelas choir. Some people stay on a week in Dubrovnik.
17-22 May Bridgwater civic group visits Czech Republic. It is Diogo’s first month as mayor and he agrees to front the trip. The group spends time in UH, and Prague plus a canal trip to Slovakia.
27 june- 4 July Eva Kordova and Ceske Budejovice teachers on a tour of the North of England. During a visit to Keswick, Malcolm Hutchinson- the dodgy manager of the Lairbeck hotel rips us off and owes us several thousand pounds to this day.
17-26 July Jana Hubena tour of Scotland. Includes a Scottish meal in Inverness from marilyn Wallace.
21-26 August In August it was Antonin Machala’s 60th birthday. He had a big party at the Hotel Skanzen in Modra near Velehrad. We took over the Dave the Milkman Big Band to play. We also did a gig at Bar’ak in Prague plus U Juraku, a wine cellar in Uherske Hradiste.
13-18 September Maltese youth rugby team visit Bridgwater and stay at Cheddar youth hostel,16-26 September
it is Brian’s 60th birthday and he chooses to tour an American couple, John & Karen Forbes around Ireland. He spends his 60th birthday at Lisdoonvarna Youth Hostel and has a birthday cake sent to him. Thanks Li.
28 Sept-6 October Pavla Pracnova Round Ireland trip. 2 minibusses with Czech students driven by Brian and Kath do a tour of Ireland
17-23 October Yvettes Voice of the People Choir visit Italy and perform in Priverno. The group also visits Naples.
1-11 November Milos Salus and Antonin Machala visit Bridgwater for carnival along with a 20 strong group of Montenegrin carnivalites and their Mayor Dragan Krapovic.