South Yorkshire Times August 22, 1959

German Visitor to Wath

Pen Pal Schoolgirls Holiday Together

A visitor to Wath on Dearne, 14 year old Fräulein Ilse Knegten, a student at the Blessing grammars School, Berlin came to England to meet her penfriend, 15 year old June Owens of 21, cuts Avenue, Wath

They have corresponded regularly for the past 18 months. Ilse also travelled to England as a member of the German International Friendship Society and arrived in July 12. In the party were 50 German boys and girls who are holidaying with pen friends and their families in the London area.

Unlike many present day teenagers Ilse is unimpressed by rock ‘n’ roll. She is a lover of traditional jazz, and also an enthusiastic devotee of dancing and opera. Ilse held a watching brief at the Park Road School during the final day of the term, and June arranged to take her friend on a tour of the surrounding countryside during the school holidays.

She will return home about the middle of August.

A school chum in Berlin, Anita Batche also has a penfriend in Wath – Ann Green who lives in Fitzwilliam Avenue