2024 – the year in review part 1 – Awful Rigours and Wretched Pay

By Christine Swan

As the year rolls towards a close, I like to take some time to reflect on events, places visited, and time spent. I have a diverse mix of memories but many to be thankful for. In this review, I will focus on the first half of the year.

Not unusually for Worcester, the year began with the River Severn in flood. Looking back through my photos, I can see that we were also blessed with many sunny days in January, as a relief from the winter gloom. The River had flooded with impressively and I recall one particular night when I was driving back from my Kung Fu club, along a road that that runs parallel with it. I had fully expected it to be closed but, the route was open. However, as I approached, workers in high visibility clothing were shuffling road cones about to create a single, precarious lane. My car is low. Very low. It is also light in weight, making the path ahead , through the flood, a rather terrifying prospect. I wound down the window and asked: “How deep is it?” “You can see from my boots,” came the response, followed by, “You’ll be OK”. As I inched forward, I could hear water lapping underneath similar to being onboard a small boat. A fellow club member was behind making sure that I got through successfully, which I did. I am sure that drivers of modern SUV style vehicles tackle shallow floods with aplomb, but for my little sports car it was rather a different prospect.

The River Severn in flood in Worcester

An old school friend and I choose theatre performances often many months in advance of reviews being published. Sometimes, shows have been running for some time which allows some insight but, we both have very specific tastes, which are quite different. The quest therefore, is to find something that will appeal to us both. Did we succeed in 2024? The first performance that we watched was Little Big Things at the Soho Place theatre. This was an incredibly uplifting musical telling the story of Henry Fraser who, after a devastating accident, was left paralysed. The story charts his despair, acceptance and finally fulfilment in becoming an accomplished and talented artist.

This particular weekend, I stayed in Holborn and discovered the Kingsway Tram Subway. I wondered how I had missed this before? The tunnel was constructed at the turn of the twentieth century and ran from Holborn in the North to Aldwych in the South. One of the slopes northbound to Angel was so steep that tram drivers needed two years of experience before tackling the route and, even then, encountered problems, sometimes rolling back to Holborn station. By the middle of the twentieth century, the days of the tram were over. One of the tunnels was used for cars but the Kingsway ramp lies unused. London Transport Museum organise virtual online tours of the old Kingsway station.

Kingsway Tram Subway entrance, Holborn

I attended a Valentine’s card making workshop in Spitalfields in February, in the wonderful Georgian townhouse in Fournier Street. I am not the most artistic of people but nevertheless, even I managed to produce something rather beautiful.

Valentine’s card making in Spitalfields

I was kindly invited to tour Worcester’s historic Guildhall, I stumbled across Slow Horses series four being filmed in Farringdon, and returned to Dartford to attend the funeral of a friend from my teenage years, in my busy February. There is something very sobering about losing a friend that causes you to reflect on your own mortality. Funerals are always sad and the sole consolation is the opportunity to spend time with those still with us, to renew acquaintances, and exchange contact details of those that were lost.

Worcester Guildhall

Lights, camera, action – Cow Cross

Mick, Keith and me – back in Dartford

March brought diverse delights including a work trip to Devizes including a tea-stop via Avebury on the way home, a visit to Hanbury Hall which included a regency era performance, a trip to Southwark, and meeting the incredible human that is Michael Sheen.

Atmospheric Avebury

Stunning murals in Hanbury Hall

Sometimes, you do get to meet your heroes

I had never spent a significant time in Paris until April. I decided to put this right with a trip on Eurostar to Paris Gare du Nord. It is such a simple trip and I chose a hotel that was close to the station. I trudged up the stairs to my room only to find that it had a balcony with an incredible view of the Eiffel Tower and Palais Garnier. I drank every cup of coffee on that balcony. I found it hard to sit and read because the view was so breathtaking, I wanted to drink in every second. Paris is beautiful. Everything good that you have heard is true and most of the bad are an exaggeration. I cannot wait to return.

View from my hotel balcony

Beautiful Paris, so iconic

I bought a new pair of shoes in April. This may not sound significant except that I rely very heavily on wearing running shoes for walking and really pushed the boat out on a very comfortable but costly pair. I celebrated by walking thirteen miles from Whitechapel to Limehouse and then back via Wapping and along the Thames back to the City.

In old Wapping

I also made a pilgrimage to the Rik Mayall bench in Hammersmith and to the site of my former university, now a set of very grand apartments in Chelsea. For some reason, I can remember trekking along the Kings Road wearing a pair of pyjamas for a ridiculous Rag Week event, and this came to mind while I was visiting on this occasion. Similarly, I can remember the rush hour conga which traditionally enraged drivers for the three years that I was an undergraduate. One of my favourite places is Brompton Cemetery. I remember visiting after my final viva voce. Unfortunately, it did not go terribly well. I tried to explain why I believed that brown algae were the most diverse group. My interviewer looked very bemused and was not convinced. I consoled myself in the peace of the overgrown, vast network of paths and monuments. “Had I failed?” I mused. In fact, I hadn’t. Phew.

Remembering Rik Mayall at the site of the opening sequence of the series Bottom

The peace of Brompton Cemetery in the shadow of Stamford Bridge

I walked up those stairs many times – but not any more. The former Chelsea College main building, Manresa Road

Whodunnit unscripted at the Park Theatre in May was a hoot. Harry Hill stumbled about improvising a dance that he didn’t know the steps to, was definitely one of the funniest things that I have ever seen. The Banksy Islington tree was quite underwhelming. It isn’t the artwork’s fault, but more that it’s virtually impossible to get close enough to see it properly and the early evening sunshine reflecting off of the protective Perspex pretty much ruined the experience. Preserved? Yes. Accessible? No.

The Banksy tree

I visited Hay on Wye, but not for the Literature Festival. It becomes too busy, too crowded and just too much for me. Instead, I visited the week before, which was quiet and allowed me to peruse the bookshops in peace, and to sit and drink tea and read my purchases. Towards the end of the afternoon, a huge storm blew up, and after dashing to the car, the heavens opened. Fortunately, driving eastwards took us away from the worst of it and the sun reappeared by the time we reached Worcester.

There’s a storm brewing – in Hay on Wye

The weather remained changeable. A half term trip on the wonderful Severn Valley Railway to Bridgenorth, wasn’t dampened by the torrential rain. We took in the exhibits at the Engine House in Highley and then progressed to Bridgenorth and took the newly refurbished Cliff Railway from Low Town to find a pub for lunch in the High Town. The Old Castle fitted the bill perfectly. Tasty food and great hospitality rescued a potential washout afternoon.

On the Severn Valley Railway

The historic cliff railway, Bridgnorth

An unusual wildlife rescue call came in towards the end of May, reporting that a snake had been dumped in a local country park. Yet another storm was brewing but, undeterred, a cautious but thorough search of the area indicated by the café staff, revealed – a stick. Admittedly, a stick that bore a passing resemblance to a snake. We later learned that a real snake had already been located and retrieved by a volunteer from a different organisation. As is often the case, several calls are made to different organisations in the hope that one, some or all, will attend. When the member of the public who called and reported seeing the animal, doesn’t wait, or their details are not shared, these are sometimes hoaxes.

A stick pretending to be a snake

A friend’s birthday party in June took me the furthest north than I have ever been. I am ashamed to say that this is only as far as the North Yorkshire Moors, which I can confirm, is a long, long way. Although it was June, it was rather chilly, but the scenery was nothing short of epic.

May and June provided the non-stop local soap opera of the Worcester Cathedral peregrine falcons breeding, incubating, hatching, feeding, fledging and flying. A video live feed kept us enthralled and anxious in equal measure. Post-fledging, their aerial antics can be viewed from the ground until your neck becomes too stiff to move. Their calls are very distinctive and can be heard all over the City as these kings and queens of the air survey their kingdom.

Juvenile peregrine falcons on Worcester Cathedral kept all of us enthralled

I returned south to London for the Restore Nature Now march and rally in June, which was a joyful experience. It was so busy that I gave up trying to reach Parliament Square and instead chose to sit on the pavement in Whitehall and watch the speeches on a large screen provided for all of us who wouldn’t fit. It was great to hear Chris Packham, Feargal Sharkey and some of the brilliant young naturalists who are inspirational.

Restore Nature Now march – too big to fit in Parliament Square

In the evening, I went to the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre to watch a magical performance of the Secret Garden. The weather was perfect for al fresco viewing and dining making for a memorable end to the day and almost, the first half of the year.

Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre covered dining adds to the unique experience

The month of June ended with a badger rescue. After a What Three Words confusion, the poorly cub was located in a field and quickly transferred to Vale Wildlife Hospital.

Poorly badger cub being rescued

This was the first half of my year. I end with a symbol that every Worcester resident knows. No matter where you travel, The tree on the Tump welcomes you home.