The Mayor from the Borough’s twin town of Wuppertal, in Germany, has been welcomed to Jarrow Town Hall.
Mr Andreas Mucke, the Mayor of Wuppertal, attended a special civic reception and met the new Mayor of South Tyneside, Councillor Alan Smith, and Mayoress of South Tyneside, Councillor Moira Smith.
The German Mayor was accompanied by Knapp Daneben, also from Wuppertal, which is a band renowned for its big sound and for playing a mix of soul, funk and blues with a jazz and rock ‘n’ roll twist.
Knapp Daneben has performed in South Tyneside several times including as part of the South Tyneside Festival.
This year they have played as part of the brass bands series at Sandhaven Amphitheatre and will be performing as part of the programme of live music in South Marine Park, from 2pm until 4pm, on Saturday 16 July.
“We are extremely proud in South Tyneside to have a long association with our twin town of Wuppertal in Germany,” the Mayor said.
“The Mayoress and I were delighted to welcome Mr Mucke into Jarrow Town Hall as well as the members of Knapp Daneben who were kind enough to play us a few songs.
“The Mayor of Wuppertal had a look round our beautiful Town Hall in Jarrow and met with various members of the council. We were honoured to ask him and members of the band to sign the visitors’ book.”
Members of South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade also attended the civic reception in Jarrow Town Hall where they received a donation of £1,000 from Knapp Daneben who also presented the Mayor and the brigade with mementoes to mark the group’s 150th anniversary.