A COHORT of Malmesbury residents and councillors made the trip to Germany last month to celebrate the death of one of the town’s most famous former monks.

The group, which included Malmesbury mayor Cllr Wayne Jones, travelled to Bad Hersfeld, a Germany town founded by Saint Lullus, a monk at Malmesbury Abbey during the seventh century.

Lullus promoted the establishment of the Carolingian style monastery of Hersfeld Abbey and eventually died in the abbey in 786, where he was buried.

Since then Lullusfest, the oldest folk festival in Germany, has been celebrated in his name during the week of Saint Lullus’s day in October.

The trip also marked the final confirmation of the town’s official friendship link with Malmesbury.

A friendship agreement, which recognised a promise of reciprocal hospitality between the two towns, was signed earlier this year by a representative of the Bad Hersfeld council.

The German mayor was not able to attend the signing in Malmesbury, as he was fighting an election at the time, so gave his signature when the Malmesbury group attended recently.

Malmesbury mayor, Cllr Jones, said the trip to Bad Hersfeld provided council members with opportunities to further build relationships with the German town.

“I am pleased the friendship agreement has now been signed in both countries which gives us an excellent platform to further relationships and explore opportunities for communities groups to engage with similar groups in Bad Hersfeld,” he said.

“I am confident our friendship will go from strength to strength.

“I am very grateful to the Friends of Malmesbury for arranging the schedule for the week and for looking after us so well.”

Malmesbury town clerk, Jeff Penfold, also attended the trip. He said of Lullusfest: “It’s a very popular festival.

“We find that people wherever they are in the world try to get back to Bad Hersfeld for it and they meet up with people they were at college with. So it’s a very busy, well organised festival.”

In an attempt to further strengthen relationships with the German town, a Friends of Lullus group is being set up in Malmesbury.

Its inaugural meeting will take place in the Malting Room of Malmesbury Town Hall on Thursday, November 24, at 7pm. All are welcome.