CHRISTMAS VISIT 2025 TO LEICESTER BY KREFELD CITIZEN FRANK LANGEN
Frank Langen, a citizen of Uerdingen in the district of Krefeld, Germany is striving to strengthen the twinning partnership of Krefeld with the English city of Leicester. Frank is known locally as the Uerdingen Highlander and wears his own tartan on important occasions.
The Uerdingen Tartan
During 2025, Frank initiated a ‘British Day’ and his first guests were members of the University of Leicester Chamber Choir. They thoroughly enjoyed their visit under the watchful eye of Frank who arranged their accommodation, meals, transport and venues.
Frank Langen dressed in his Uerdingen Tartan outfit
The two cities have been twinned since May 1969. A few years after that, Frank and his family have maintained a close friendship with their host family in Leicester for 50 years, which came about through an exchange program between sports clubs. “It was only through an extended stay in Leicester that I really learned English,” confesses the trained chemical laboratory assistant and sports journalist, who is now retired due to serious illness.
University of Leicester Chamber Choir performing at St. Peter’s Church, Uerdingen
Encouraged by the success of the visit, Frank then arranged to visit Leicester during the Christmas period to see the Choir perform their Christmas concert. Following the news that Frank and his wife Iris were coming to Leicester, the City of Leicester European Twinning Association (CLETA) prepared a very busy itinerary for the two of them.
On Thursday 4th December, Frank and Iris arrived in Leicester and had a tour of the City centre. There they found the Clock Tower, a very famous landmark in the City.
The first traffic island in Britain
The Clock Tower was built originally as a solution to traffic congestion on the site of the town´s former hay and straw market in 1868. Horse drawn vehicles all converged on the area known as the Haymarket from six streets, causing chaos. It was decided that “The Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower” would be constructed as the first traffic island in the Kingdom.
Frank and Iris visiting the Clock Tower
During the evening, they were welcomed by members of the CLETA Committee and dined out at a traditional ‘English’ pub where they enjoyed the Carvery.
Grove Farm Public House is well-known for its splendid Carvery
His first afternoon in Leicester was spent in recruiting another city organisation, the Leicester Masters Swimming Club. Arrangements are now in hand for them to visit Krefeld during July 2026 to celebrate the next ‘British Day’.
Frank nurtured the friendship he had forged the previous summer with the Chamber Choir and its young members (aged between 20 and 25) and he had been invited to their Christmas concert being performed on December 5th. He was greeted there as “our German dad.”
So, in the evening, he was the Guest of Honour at their recital in St. Anne’s Church, Leicester and during the interval he spoke to the audience in praise of the Choir. He also read out an official letter that the Krefeld Oberbürgermeister, Frank Meyer, had written especially for the visit and for the attention of all Leicester citizens.
Frank Langen addresses the congregation
But it wasn’t just a simple concert visit. Oh no! CLETA had other plans for their distinguished guests. The next day, during the afternoon, Frank and Iris were taken by the CLETA Chairman, Fred Rankin and his wife Viv, to be entertained by the University of Leicester Orchestra at their Christmas Concert which was held at Stamford Court on the University Campus in Oadby. Frank was introduced to the conductor of the Orchestra, Paul Jenkins, who is helping to make the arrangements for the orchestra to visit Krefeld in June 2026.
University of Leicester Orchestra
During the evening, the same day, Frank and Iris attended a reception held at the Chef and Spice Restaurant, a smart, bustling, buffet restaurant with Indian, Chinese and British cuisine. All the members of the UNI Chamber Choir and a group of CLETA members welcomed them and the evening was a great success.
Frank delighted in meeting and talking with all the students who were only too pleased to have their photos taken with him.
On Sunday morning, Frank and Iris were taken on a visit to a newly refurbished Jewry Wall museum. It has been built on the site of Roman remains which show part of the City Wall erected by the Romans in circa 160AD. The grounds also show the underneath remains of a large Roman Bath complex.
Remains of Jewry Wall and Roman Bath complex
They were then taken to a large College on the outskirts of Leicester where the Leicester Symphony Orchestra were practising for their Christmas Concert. Frank and Iris were met by CLETA Committee Member, Rita D’Silva Griffiths who supervises the business management side of the college.
The orchestra visited Krefeld in May 2025 and Frank and Iris went to one of their concerts and they were very pleased to meet up with some of them again. Rita put on a magnificent afternoon tea and also presented the couple with a basket of Leicester mementoes.
Frank and Iris receive a special basket of memories of their visit
Sadly, this was the last event on their itinerary and the following Monday they were collected from their hotel by CLETA Chairman, Fred Rankin, and taken to Birmingham International Airport to catch their flight home.
We look forward to meeting up with Frank again in Krefeld during 2026. It will be a busy but wonderful year! Auf Wiedersehen!
