The twinning visit to Wetzlar looked destined to be a disaster.
Armed with cases of Essex wine, a contingent from Colchester Twinning Society had gone to the German town to take part in its famous wine festival.
But, on the first night the heavens opened and the festival in the market square looked likely to be a total washout.
"The wine cases couldn't be lifted because they were so wet," remembered the twinning society's chairman Jenny Glayzer, "and there was water running through our stand."
At 10pm, the thunderstorm finally stopped and half an hour later the crowds arrived in force and the celebrations carried on until the small hours.
"I thought, these Germans really know how to party," stressed Ms Glayzer. "They partied until the small hours. There was no drunkeness, just everybody enjoying themselves."
It is memories like these which sum up for Ms Glayzer what twinning is all about. Learning and understanding other people's cultures is vital for harmony between nations.
Unlike visiting a country on holiday as a tourist, twinning means people get to meet other people from other countries in their own homes and see what their lives are really like.
The concept of twinning began in 1920, but the real thrust came after the Second World War.
The Germans did not want there ever to be another world war and wanted to improve relations and understanding with other nations, particularly the French, so the individuals saw each other as people as opposed to a single race.
Twinning had another surge about ten years ago following the eastern European countries emerging from behind the Iron Curtain. Now, the twinning movement has spread to counties in Africa.
"We are living in an increasingly global world and the UK is no longer an entity unto itself," said Ms Glayzer.
She said the friendships she has made through the twinning society are ones she will have for life and have been "ample reward" for the work she has put in.
This Friday she will be among a group from the twinning society which is off to Imola in Italy to mark ten years of being twinned with Colchester.
Bertha Hindle, chairman of the Colchester Anglo Italian Society, who is also on the Imola trip, said: "Twinning should be supported, but it is not supported enough. Relationships strengthen relationships between countries."
She sees twinning as a great way of sharing a wide range of cultural ideas, from comparing how people live and educate their children, to how they deal with waste disposal and transport problems.
"We are part of Europe," said Mrs Hindle. "But at the moment some people don't want to be part of Europe, although they don't know what Europe is like. If they got to know what Europe is like then their perception of Europe will get better."
For Mrs Hindle, who is half Italian herself, the trips to Imola are always special, with the Italians giving their Colchester friends a warm welcome.
She marvels at how stylish the Italians are, as well as their great respect for the elderly and their passion for family life.
The importance to Colchester is that twinning lets people from abroad know about the town and helps boost tourism.
To mark the town's ten-year link to Imola, the pond at Castle Park has been renamed Imola Garden, joining the Wetzlar Garden and Avignon Garden there.
It is a small gesture to our friends across the Channel, but its location in the town's prestigious park shows how important the link is.
And when it comes to peace, long may it continue.
OUR TWINS
Colchester has three twin towns, Wetzlar in Germany, Avignon in France and Imola in Italy. Over the years there have been several links made with organisations in the towns through schools, football clubs, churches and music groups.
- WETZLAR - TWINNED SINCE 1969
Wetzlar has a population of 50,000 and stands on the banks of the River Lahn.
The town is based on several hills and at its centre is the Altstadt (Old Town) - a mix of cobblestone market squares, narrow streets and half-timbered houses.
The old and new parts of the town are joined by a bridge over the river.
- AVIGNON - TWINNED SINCE 1972
The historic town of Avignon has been developed into a town of art and culture.
It is now a city with a population of 92,000 and Avignon's International Summer Festival has received world-wide acclaim.
- IMOLA - TWINNED SINCE 1997
Imola is best known as one of the towns on the Formula One circuit.
The town was originally an ancient Roman colony, populated as early as the prehistoric age.
The current population is more than 64,000.
ANGLO-ITALIAN SOCIETY
The Colchester Anglo Italian Society meets on the fourth Tuesday of every month at the Friends Meeting House in Church Street, Colchester, at 7pm. Call 01206 868207 for more details.
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