English was my first love. It promised to open the world for me. I dreamed that when I grew up, I would travel everywhere, able to talk to everyone I met. A whole new world of English literature was awaiting me.

Reading has been my great passion since childhood. I loved paper and pens, the loud clatter of my father’s typewriter, he was a locally renowned journalist, felt like music to my ears. It meant he was focused, creating something meaningful, a work that would be appreciated by many.

Reading Enid Blyton’s The Famous Five, or Die fünf Freunde in German, gave me a first taste of English flair. I dreamed of having a library like George’s (one of the ‘five’) father’s, with walls full of books.

I still remember the excitement I felt as a young primary school pupil when my parents rented out their garage to an English teacher, Mrs Ehms. It felt like fate when I later entered Gymnasium (secondary school) with the promise of learning English, that it would be with Mrs Ehms herself. Later, the school curriculum included a lot of original English literature, and my favourite became Brave New World. I also loved Spotlight, a biweekly magazine for English learners.

Then came the internet: the modern version of my dream library.

For over four years now, I have had a language exchange partner via video call (tadah!) from Barrow upon Soar. Naturally, this sparked my curiosity about the place. What was life like there? Villages tell you more about a nation than a city like London or a touristy place ever can. Best of all, I got to hear about it first-hand. And then there is Barrow’s wonderful magazine - Barrow Voice - which you, dear reader, right now are holding in your hands or reading online.

My first step was to Google articles by my local friend Guy Silk. Then I searched for “piano” since I am a pianist myself. Finally, I looked for pictures of the village. From there, my exploration continued to grow. I was deeply impressed by the many activities and volunteer efforts in this small community. I noticed nice typical British traditions - playing cricket, the scarecrow festival in the last edition - and enjoyed reading so many positive and encouraging stories.

In fact, reading Barrow Voice doesn’t feel like reading about a village of just 5,000 inhabitants. We have local magazines in my area too, but they don’t carry the heartfelt character of Barrow Voice, which truly lives up to its motto: “From citizens for citizens.” I love the vast variety of articles. Every issue is a surprise. Will I read a life story of a local resident? A report on a school event? A concert review? Some practical advice, a clever idea, or a service offer? Or perhaps about a passionate opinion that demands to be heard and echoed?

What makes Barrow Voice special, from my German perspective, is this deep sense of community I can feel in every page. It’s not just a newsletter: it connects neighbours, celebrates volunteerism and local culture. The magazine is written by locals. That’s one of the reasons for its warm, personal style. It lets readers feel very close to the village and invites them to take part in all sorts of activities. This is something I find inspiring and somewhat rare in German local publications, which usually feel quite formal and only informative.

Through Barrow Voice, I glimpse a community that values every small or big contribution. It reminds me how powerful local media can be - not just to inform, but to build a community. For me, reading it is a window into a life of togetherness.

So, as I continue my language exchange and my journey with English, Barrow Voice remains a companion - both to practise my reading skills and to experience a functioning community.

Sonja Hänig, in Bad Krozingen