A GUSHING appreciation from the Daily Telegraph, which dubbed Malvern "Our Little Switzerland" was reprinted in the Malvern Gazette a century ago.

But after the usual lyrical waxings on the beauties of the hills, the correspondent had some harsh things to say about the attitude of some of the inhabitants.

"On the whole, Great Malvern, when the subject of attractions for visitors is broached, feels rather small and ashamed of itself," he said.

"It is hard to see why, when the purple hills loom up before one's eyes, and the air fills one's lungs.

"But the fact remains that every wide awake citizen of Great Malvern wishes the town were greater still in reality.

"You cannot ask the simplest question about the season or municipal affairs without getting the answer 'Ah! If we were only a big place, with large resources'."

The anonymous scribe is also scathing about the Priory, claiming it would be "impossible to speak at once adequately and politely" about its restorers, saying that the rebuilt porch would almost frighten visitors away, and objecting to the "garish new stained glass".