User:Moongalba

WORCESTERSHIRE

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN TO EVESHAM WHEN RIPE FRUIT IS SWOLLEN ON THE TREES, PERHAPS YOU'VE WALKED THROUGH ORCHARDS WHEN SCENTS ARE ON THE BREEZE.

OR DRUNK FROM THE WINE PRESS AFTER HARVESTED FRUIT HAS BEEN SQUEEZED, PERHAPS SCRUMPED AMONG THE WINDFALLS UPON HANDS AND BENDED KNEES.

FRIENDS IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN TO EVESHAM,THEN MAKE THE TRIP ONE DAY. TRAVEL THE ROAD TO REDDITCH, OR THE LANE WHICH LEADS DOWN ALCESTER WAY.

ONE TAKES YOU PAST OLD ALVCHURCH AND THE OTHER ON TOWARDS STUDLEY, BOTH LEAD TO THE VILLAGE OF NORTON,SISTER TO THE HAMLET OF OLD PUDSEY.

WHEN YOU HAVE SEEN ALL YOU WANT AT EVESHAM, GO, VIEW ALL THERE IS TO SEE, THE VILLAGES OF PINVIN AND BISHAMPTON, VILLAGES WHERE MY FOLKS USED TO BE.

WALK THE QUAINT OLD PLACES OF WYRE PIDDLE, FLYFORD FLAVELL AND FLADBURY, SEE THE PAST IN THE PRESENT, BUT BE REVERENT, FOR THIS IS ELGAR'S COUNTY.

THOUGH I WAS BORN IN WARWICKSHIRE, WORCESTERSHIRE MEANS MOST OF ALL TO ME. FOR AS I WALKED THE VILLAGES MY ANCESTORS CAME ALONG TO ACCOMPANY ME.

EDWARD BEST BORN IN 1539, AND HIS WIFE ALICE MARRIED IN THIS MIDDLANDS COUNTY. FRANCES BORN ABOUT 1587, AND HER HUSBAND THOMAS BORN AT QUAINT HARTLEBURY.

SO BE UP, AND START YOUR JOURNEY TO EVESHAM WHEN THE FRUIT IS ON THE TREES, PINK AND WHITE OF APPLE BLOSSOM SPREADS A CARPET WITH A SCENT UPON THE BREEZE.

WHEN THE MAY BLOSSOM IS OUT ON THE HEDGEROWS, AND THE HUMMING OF THE BEES TELLS YOU THAT IT IS TIME TO BE UP AND DOING, AFTER RISING FROM YOUR KNEES.

ROBERT HARRISON