Judith gets taste of Valley life

A VISITOR from Rossendale’s German twin town of Bocholt has returned home after a three week stay to find out about working life in Britain.

Judith Efing, 22, works in the European Office at Stadt Bocholt (Bocholt Council), helping to liaise with Rossendale and the German town’s other European ‘twins’ in Belgium, France, Lithuania and Holland as well as the city of Wuxi in China.

Judith came to the Valley as part of the EU-funded Erasmus Programme which aims to promote international understanding. Her work time in The Valley was split between Horse & Bamboo Theatre and The Whitaker where she worked in several different roles.

Judith said: “I arrived late on Thursday evening and on Friday morning went straight to The Boo where I hardly had time to say hello to everyone before I had to get involved in setting up the theatre ready for performances.

“As well as working for Stadt Bocholt I study in Munster for a degree in event management, so ●● From left, Ros and Peter Bill (with their grandchildren Leah and Livvy), Judith Efing, Tim Nuttall and Elaine Roberts at the Bocholt Jigsaw sculpture in Rawtenstall working at Horse & Bamboo was ideal. I helped to direct visitors around the theatre and I even got a chance to work with the artists building scenery from papier mâché.”

During her stay, Judith, who lives with her parents and older brother on their beef cattle farm on the outskirts of Bocholt, stayed with two families who are members of Friends of Bocholt. Chairman of The Friends, Peter Bill, and his wife Ros, were Judith’s hosts for a fortnight, with Tim Nuttall and Elaine Roberts providing her with a room for her first weekend.

The stay has improved Judith’s English, although she now says some words with a Lancashire accent.

She was struck by the friendliness of local people who were always willing to say ‘hello’ as she passed them in the street and she loved the local fish and chips.