A GERMAN woman and former Kronberg exchange pupil has described how she “fell in love” with Aberystwyth as a teenager.

Dr Christiane Williams, a mother-of-four from Kronberg, who now works as a German and English teacher, contacted the Cambrian News following our appeal for experiences and photos to help celebrate the 20th anniversary of twinning between the two towns.

“May. I. Have. The. Butter. Please?” — this was the first meaningful sentence I ever spoke in English and it was addressed to Erin, an exchange orchestra student from Aberystwyth,” said Dr Williams.

“I was seven years old and it would take a long time until I would dare to speak English again, which today is almost inconceivable to my bilingual children, who have an American father and were partially raised in England.”

Dr Williams said her older sister, a member of the orchestra and choir, was paired with an Aberystwyth pupil while she was still in primary school.

“Gwenan Williams was a lovely girl, who seemed almost fairy-like to me with her slight figure, milk-white skin, red curls and ability to play the harp,” she added.

“She and my sister, over the years and multiple exchanges, became close friends — and lucky for me, there was also a younger sister my age named Heledd.

“Eira and Gwilym, the parents, sometimes came along on the orchestra trips — if only to protect the unbelievably valuable harp — and both families quickly became close. To this day the parents exchange Christmas letters and the daughters are friends on Facebook.”

See this week’s south editions for the full feature, in shops and online on Wednesday