6 HAVE you ever known public transport in such a mess?

It is not all down to Government, not the present one anyway, but it set me wondering how we managed years ago.

In the days of my childhood (I'm now 81) the village of Guarlford was served by Midland Red and "Tucky" Friar's horse-drawn carriage.

Now, so far as I am aware, there is no service to Guarlford, and to get to Upton-on-Severn you have to go through Worcester and Kempsey. And they call it progress!

My grandfather, once resident at Whittakers Cottages, Clevelode, found the local transport unsuitable for his employment however, and solved the problem by walking from "Whittakers" to British Camp daily.

Here he joined a gang putting clay in the reservoir. It was then under constructionand the job was done barefooted to make it water-tight.

Have you ever wondered why there are so many good pubs on that route - or about the distinctive flavour of Malvern water?

S G T BEARD

Malvern Lin