Lahnstein is the twin town of Kettering and in 1999 GVFB hosted members of one of the fire stations in the town, since our first meeting friendships have blossomed and every other year we now visit the town situated near Frankfurt and Koblenz. The inhabitants of Lahnstein also have a river which runs through their town. This stretch of the Rhine is straight out of mythology complete with castles and forests.

Our visits coincide with the Rhine in Flames festival. A firework display to rival some of the best in the world and stretching for 20 Kilometers along the Rhine from Boparte to Koblenz. The photograph aside shows:

receiving a gift from the Lahnstein Fire Service.

 brigade.

Lahnstein brigades.

The Rhine & the Brigade

Blazing Paddles

The Lahnstein Brigade is similarly a voluntary Service. In Germany only towns with a population in excess of 100,000 have full time paid firemen. They are however extremely professional and besides normal fire responsibilities have a stretch of the Rhine to look after so training on, and in water is part of what is a very efficient operation.

Being part of the Fire Service is not simply contributing to the community. Although that is a large part of it, what strikes the observer is that this is the community and the social life of those who are members. Wives and families are encouraged to be part of an organisation that is truly an integrated part of society.

During our visits it is very unusual for the Brigade to be called out . Very different to the situation in this country today where our Fire Service receives many more calls. A different culture but interesting to make the comparisons.

For those GVFB members that have not as yet visited Lahnstein it is an amazing experience not to be missed. Alternate years sees a return visit to take part in our Eurosquirt but It is difficult to match the hospitality shown to us when we visit Germany and of course Lahnstein are much better equipped than ourselves so it must be a mutual love of great beer that has led to a lasting fellowship.

A Lahnstein Brigade“shout”

The photograph above shows damage caused by a fire attended by the Lahnstein Brigade. This was at a restaurant, part of the medieval Marksburg Castle which is the only Rhine hilltop castle never to be destroyed in over 700 years. If not for the local fire service this statistic may have gone up in smoke.