News
Tourists, participants in congresses and guests in Aalborg in general from 34 different countries were last year initiated into Christian The Fourth´s Guild in Aalborg. All in all the Guild got 588 new members who all were initiated during one of the initiations of the year in Duus´ Winecellar in Jens Bangs Stenhus in Aalborg. This information was given by the chief bencher Niels Voss Hansen at the Guild meeting (which is the general meeting of the Guild) and it of course was held in the winecellar.
The biggest initiation so far took place in May last year when the Guild initiated more than 100 persons in a double initiation. It was members of the staffs from several travel agencies who visited Aalborg on Star Cruise´s cruise ship “Viking Star”. It went so well that we in the Guild are looking forward to initiate passengers from several of the cruise ships that will visit Aalborg the coming summer season. This will contribute to make Aalborg better known and give a lot of Aalborg´s guests an extra holiday experience. At the same time it will bring in some extra money in the Guild´s cash box – money that will be spent on good purposes. The Guild´s foundation donates every year 100,000 DKK to social, humanitarian and cultural purposes. And the Guild itself donates for example the Prizes of Good Spirit, which at Christmas time is handed out to a student in each of Aalborg´s educational institutions. The receivers of these grants are chosen (by their educational institutions) for being cheerful and good comrades, and that is why the chief bencher always hands over the money with a warning against spending it on textbooks and other dull purposes.
At the Guild meeting Frank Wilquin also was honored with the Aalborg Prize for his magnificent model of King Christian the Fourth´s flagship “Trefoldigheden”. The model is exhibited at the maritime experience center “Springeren” (former the naval museum) in Aalborg. The Guild also honored the “Bayeux-group” who has – through many years - been working on making a wonderful copy of the famous, historical Bayeux tapestry with motives from the Viking age. The tapestry is now exhibited at “Børglum Kloster”.
At the Guild meeting was air force specialist Brian S. Israelsen honored as “Soldier of the Year”, and according to tradition the two residents of the two rooms in the “4th of May College” in Aalborg, which are sponsored by the Guild, received a small check to sweeten the springtime. This years Prize of Honor was awarded to Bo Rosberg for his work through many years for the maritime Aalborg – not least his giant work for getting “Tall Ships Race” to Aalborg. Rosberg was absent from the meeting and will at a later occasion receive his prize.
Photo: Happy receivers of honor and prizes. From left Gitte Pedersen from the “Bayeux-group”, Frank Willquin, Brian Israelsen, 4th of May residents Martin Beerman Staal og Arthur Bastrup-Birk Wachmann, chief bencher Niels Voss Hansen and Kamma Jensen from the “Bayeux-group”.
Photo: Fini Ryming
Read the Laugs-Newsletter here
Christian the Fourth´s Guild´s Foundation has as its objective to distribute each year 100,000 DKK to social, humanitarian and cultural activities in Aalborg municipality and nearest neighborhood. The principal capital is 2 million DKK and it is the yield from that which is distributed. But the present world economic crisis makes it difficult to reach this objective, and that is why the Guild has made a contribution such that we also this year can donate 100,000 DKK, said the chairman of the Foundation´s board, former mayor Kaj Kjær when he in accordance with tradition presented the checks, while glögg and dumplings were served in Duus´ Wine Cellar in Jens Bangs Stenhus.
The Guild´s Foundation distributed this year donations to 33 recipients. It is organisations, societies and a few individuals. This means relatively modest amounts – but the money is meant as a pat on the shoulder to “the voluntary, unpaid work to benefit the less privileged groups of society” as it is expressed in the Foundation´s rules.
A few applicants got their checks earlier in the year because the donation was needed then. The other applicants got their check at the Christmas gathering in Duus´ Wine Cellar. This is also the place where Christian the Fourth´s Guild has its “headquarters” and the Foundation´s capital comes from the Guild´s work – and from the many members of the Guild all over the world.
The recipients are - as always – a very different crowd. From a supporting organization for KamillianerGårdens Hospice to Danish Red Cross´ visiting service and an organization for families with cancer-sick children to Aalborg Pensioner´s Orchestra. And this year there also were money to a song group in Aalborg whose older members have had to realize that their eyesight is not what it used to be. The Foundation helped them to get songbooks with large printed text.
Besides Kaj Kjær the Foundation´s board has in 2015 consisted of former minister of ecclesiastical affairs Mette Madsen, CEO Ernst Trillingsgaard, the Guild´s chief bencher, Niels Voss Hansen and the Foundations daily administrator, bencher Per Svensson.
Photo: Jens Morten
Some 8–10 young students in Aalborg has again this year received some extra Christmas pocket money. It is Christian the Fourth´s Guild who this year – for the 26th time - distributes its Prize of good Spirit to a student on each of Aalborg´s high schools and similar educational institutions. A couple of the places are each year visited by representatives from the Guild – accompanied by the Guild Troubadour.
This year it was a student in Aalborg Katedralskole and one in Tech College. On the other educational institutions is the donation presented by the headmasters, usually at the Christmas celebration. The grants can not be applied for, but are presented to a student who is recommended by the school´s leadership.
The joy of life should blossom and Aalborg is a happy city. A small check here at Christmas time contributes to see life from the brighter side, said the Guild´s chief bencher, Niels Voss Hansen, when he handed over the diplomas and checks.
Andreas Holmgaard, Aalborg Katedralskole received his check in the school, and Stefan Vilsen, apprentice waiter who is a trainee at restaurant Prinses Juliana in Aalborg, received his check there as he was surprised when the the Guild made their appearance.
But remember that the money should be spent in the good mood with which it is given. Not for textbooks or working clothes –but for parties and joy, admonished the chief bencher.
Photo: Fini Ryming and Jens Morten
There were lots of laughter and cheerful remarks when the actors from the Winter Revue 2015 were initiated into the Guild, and the chief bencher showed all his charm – especially towards the two female actors, Vicki Berlin and Lise Baastrup.
The four actors together with others from the staff were initiated on a Saturday morning in December. And even though they had been made to rise early after playing in the revue the previous night in Aalborg Kongres- og Kulturcenter, they were in a very cheerful mood during the initiation. In the photo is it Henrik Lykkegaard (left) and on the other side of the chief bencher Vicki Berlin, Lise Baastrup and Rasmus Krogsgaard.
- It is really an act of confidence that there are somebody who has the courage to give me a key to a wine cellar, grinned Lise Baastrup after the initiation.
Photo: Jens Morten