Promoting sporting, cultural and educational links across Europe
Current Partnerships
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Listed below are many Richmond clubs & associations which have partners in Konstanz & Fontainebleau. However first you might like to improve your German or French.
The University of Konstanz enjoys an idyllic setting on the banks of the Bodensee, overlooking the garden island of Mainau
The Richmond in Europe Association works closely with the Tandem-Büro, based at the University of Konstanz, which brings together native speakers to learn one another’s language. All you need to do is to register (free of charge) & the Büro will find you a partner in your chosen language. All levels are catered for from absolute beginners to fluent speakers. You can communicate by email or Skype as often as you like or meet each other in Richmond or Konstanz.
Ingo Seyfried at the Rhine Falls near Konstanz
About 1500 people are registered with the Tandem-Büro, but there are very few native English speakers, who are much in demand. Most Germans learn English from other Germans which is not as good as learning from a native speaker. Ingo Seyfried wanted to converse with a native English speaker so he enrolled with the Tandem-Büro.
To read about his experience please click on the following link.
You can also learn German at the Humboldt-Institut in Konstanz. There is a range of residential courses for students over 18 & mature adults. For further information please click on the following links.
Richmond clubs, associations & schools with partners in Fontainebleau & Konstanz.
The Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court, has a partnership with Le Cercle du Jeu de Paume de Fontainebleau.
Michael Day, chairman of the Royal Tennis Court, (left) & Thierry Bernard-Tambour signed the agreement.
The latest new partnership between the Royal Tennis Court, Hampton Court & le Cercle du Jeu de Paume de Fontainebleau was confirmed at a ceremony in the château de Fontainebleau in June 2022. It was also agreed that the two clubs will compete every two years for la Trophée du Drap d’Or, alternating the venue between the two countries.
The ceremony had originally been scheduled for 2020, to mark the 500th anniversary of the Field of Cloth of Gold, but it had to be postponed because of the pandemic.
For further details about the Royal Tennis Court please click on the following link:
Ham Polo Club has a long standing partnership with the Polo Club de Fontainebleau.
Ham Polo Club playing against the Polo Club de Fontainebleau on 7th June 2025 as part of the Reaffirmation celebrations.
Music Partnerships
Musicians from Waldegrave School & the Conservatoire de Musique in Fontainebleau form an important part of the European Youth Orchestra. Here they are pictured during their performance at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington on 8th June 2025.
Waldegrave School Orchestra has close links with the the conservatoire de musique in Fontainebleau
Musikschule Konstanz Schulleiter, Dieter Dörrenbächer with REA chairman, Alan Mockford. February 2020.
Contact for the Musikschule Konstanz is Schulleiter Dieter Dörrenbächer
dieter.doerrenbaecher@mskn.org
The musicians of the Musikschule perform regularly in Konstanz
The European Youth Orchestra comprises musicians from Richmond, Fontainebleau & Konstanz plus Lodi in Italy, Sintra in Portugal & Alba Iulia in Romania.
The European Youth Orchestra performed to a packed house at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington in June 2025 as the climax to the Reaffirmation.
To see & hear the latest fantastic performance by the European Youth Orchestra please click on the following link.
Currently the English contingent of the orchestra comes from Waldegrave School in Twickenham.
Thames Philharmonic Choir is twinned with Sinfonischer Chor in Konstanz
The two choirs perform joint concerts in both Richmond & Konstanz.
The two choirs received a rapturous ovation after a performance in the Stefanskirche in Konstanz in May 2023.Thames Philharmonic Choir with one of the landmarks of Konstanz.
For further information about Thames Philharmonic Choir please contact Sandra Macniven
To see a short film of St. Margaret’s Elastic Band & others performing at the reaffirmation in Fontainebleau in 2015 please click on the following link.
St. Mary’s University, Strawberry Hill, was linked with the University of Konstanz through the Erasmus+ programme.
Unfortunately in 2021 the British government withdrew the UK from the Erasmus scheme as a result of Brexit. Sadly British students will no longer be entitled to participate in the scheme unless they are entitled to EU citizenship by virtual of dual nationality. (e.g. An Irish grandparent etc.)
The University of Konstanz enjoys an idyllic location
The view from the university refectory.
Students with EU citizenship will however continue to enjoy the benefits. For further details please contact Melanie Hochstätter in Konstanz.
erasmus.humanities@uni-konstanz.de
Melanie Hochstätter (right) with her colleague Iris Bräuning
Katharina Land from the University of Konstanz studied English at St. Mary’s in 2018. During her time in Richmond she wrote, ” I decided to spend a semester at St. Mary’s because of its proximity to London & its reputation of having a familiar & welcoming community. So far I am enjoying my life in England very much & I start my days excited to see which opportunities are going to arise for me. I love to explore London’s museums & attractions and I often read in the beautiful Richmond Park. I know that this Erasmus semester allows me to meet amazing people, develop my English and grow as a person in many ways and I am very thankful for all of that.
Another young woman from Konstanz, Tina Merzan, also studied English at St. Mary’s. During her stay she wrote, “I decided to study in Twickenham because it is so close to London. The exciting capital offers many opportunities for people who are interested in culture, art, literature & the theatre. I’m enjoying being close to a foreign culture and exploring all its uniqueness & differences. My favourite places are Camden Town by night & Bushy Park. London is a melting point for exciting foreign cultures and there is always something new to explore. The first time I went to Richmond I was fascinated by its cosy cafes & bars. Richmond Park is definitely the highlight of the borough. I’m glad that I have got the chance to study in such great a country as England.”
Montana Twinem (22) from Konstanz also read English & Media Studies at St. Mary’s through the Erasmus programme. She says, “The urge to expand my horizon is what led me to study at St. Mary’s. Situated in a peaceful suburban area, yet close to the centre of London, it enjoys a perfect location. However it is not only the social & cultural experience which makes my time here so special. Equally important was the great course choice. With fantastic & demanding lecturers, my classes in English & film/media studies have challenged me to go the extra mile & seize any potential I might have. The people I have met & the things I have learned will stay with me forever and I can only recommend Erasmus & St. Mary’s to anyone who is thinking about a change of scenery.”
Marie Herbert is another student from the University of Konstanz who recently studied at St. Mary’s as part of the Erasmus scheme. She writes,”I am very glad that the Erasmus programme has made it possible for me to study here for a semester. This has enabled me to improve my English & to learn about different cultures & people. I am studying media arts & creative writing, which fit in with the programme in my home university, but at the same time they offer different aspects and a more practice-oriented way of learning. The small size of the St. Mary’s campus made it easy for me to find my way around & there are several places to explore in the vicinity, like Teddington, Richmond & Kingston, which otherwise I probably would not have visited. And of course it is easy to get to the vibrant city centre of London. In addition, St. Mary’s offers a huge range of sports, which gave me the possibility to stay fit during my time away from my team sport at home. My time in England & at St. Mary’s has gifted me with a lot of new experiences & adventures & new friends to enjoy them with.”
Many of Britain’s top athletes, like Mo Farah, train at St. Mary’s.
The Friends of Richmond Park are linked with Les Amis de la Forêt de Fontainebleau.
For further information please contact the Friends of Richmond Park Chairman at
chairman@frp.org.uk
Richmond Bridge Club has links with the Bridge Club de Fontainebleau & Bridge Club Konstanz
Members of Richmond Bridge Club in Konstanz for an international tournament in April 2024. They are pictured here at the town hall, where they received a warm reception before being taken on a guided tour of the historic old town.
which welcomes francophones & francophiles from the Richmond area. For further details please click on the above link or telephone Cedric Marx on 07942 999943
and
The Barnes Community Association
which is partnered with
Les Amis de Barnes
in Le Pecq
A bird’s eye view of Le Pecq which lies on the Seine 19 km west of Paris.
Guildford is twinned with Freiburg, which is also in Baden-Württemberg & not too far from Konstanz. For more information about the Guildford Twinning Association please click on the following link.
The Young European Movement is the youth section of the European Movement for those under 35 years of age. YEM shares REA’s objective to promote closer ties with the rest of Europe.
For further details please click on the following link:
A recent visitor from Konstanz, who was invited by the Mayor to tea at York House, was enormously impressedThe then Duke & Duchess of York with the baby Princess Elizabeth in 1926.
The Richmond in Europe Association is also partnered with the York House Society. The historic York House in Twickenham has been owned at various times by members of the exiled French aristocracy. It became the town hall for Twickenham Borough Council in 1926. The Queen’s parents and King Manuel of Portugal attended the official opening.
You can see a short one minute film of their visit if you click on the following link:
York House is now the town hall for the borough of Richmond Upon Thames. A magnificent building with beautiful gardens extending to the Thames, it was once described by a visiting German ambassador as the most beautiful town hall she had ever seen. For further information about the York House Society please click on the following link:
Katharina Land from the University of Konstanz studied English at St. Mary’s in 2018. During her time in Richmond she wrote, ” I decided to spend a semester at St. Mary’s because of its proximity to London & its reputation of having a familiar & welcoming community. So far I am enjoying my life in England very much & I start my days excited to see which opportunities are going to arise for me. I love to explore London’s museums & attractions and I often read in the beautiful Richmond Park. I know that this Erasmus semester allows me to meet amazing people, develop my English and grow as a person in many ways and I am very thankful for all of that.
Another young woman from Konstanz, Tina Merzan, also studied English at St. Mary’s. During her stay she wrote, “I decided to study in Twickenham because it is so close to London. The exciting capital offers many opportunities for people who are interested in culture, art, literature & the theatre. I’m enjoying being close to a foreign culture and exploring all its uniqueness & differences. My favourite places are Camden Town by night & Bushy Park. London is a melting point for exciting foreign cultures and there is always something new to explore. The first time I went to Richmond I was fascinated by its cosy cafes & bars. Richmond Park is definitely the highlight of the borough. I’m glad that I have got the chance to study in such great a country as England.”
Montana Twinem (22) from Konstanz also read English & Media Studies at St. Mary’s through the Erasmus programme. She says, “The urge to expand my horizon is what led me to study at St. Mary’s. Situated in a peaceful suburban area, yet close to the centre of London, it enjoys a perfect location. However it is not only the social & cultural experience which makes my time here so special. Equally important was the great course choice. With fantastic & demanding lecturers, my classes in English & film/media studies have challenged me to go the extra mile & seize any potential I might have. The people I have met & the things I have learned will stay with me forever and I can only recommend Erasmus & St. Mary’s to anyone who is thinking about a change of scenery.”
Marie Herbert is another student from the University of Konstanz who recently studied at St. Mary’s as part of the Erasmus scheme. She writes,”I am very glad that the Erasmus programme has made it possible for me to study here for a semester. This has enabled me to improve my English & to learn about different cultures & people. I am studying media arts & creative writing, which fit in with the programme in my home university, but at the same time they offer different aspects and a more practice-oriented way of learning. The small size of the St. Mary’s campus made it easy for me to find my way around & there are several places to explore in the vicinity, like Teddington, Richmond & Kingston, which otherwise I probably would not have visited. And of course it is easy to get to the vibrant city centre of London. In addition, St. Mary’s offers a huge range of sports, which gave me the possibility to stay fit during my time away from my team sport at home. My time in England & at St. Mary’s has gifted me with a lot of new experiences & adventures & new friends to enjoy them with.”
The Young European Movement is the youth section of the European Movement for those under 35 years of age. YEM shares REA’s objective to promote closer ties with the rest of Europe.
The Richmond in Europe Association 