WHAT a day. We didn't want it to end, did we? Fun in the sun, ice-cold drinks in hand, that picnic hamper packed full of goodies... plus the utter joy of being entertained by the elder statesman of rock and roll himself, His Imperial Highness Elton John.

Yesterday's New Road gig by the superstar will go down in Worcester history as being the biggest concert ever staged in the Faithful City. Yes, we remember visits by Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison and the Beatles - but that was when rock was young, and by the time the age of superstars had dawned, Worcester had become a rock backwater. But all that has now changed.

It is sheer speculation on our part, but the Worcester News would like to think that the visit by such an illustrious member of pop's Old Guard is not entirely unconnected with the city's ascending profile in the arts and entertainment world. In recent times, we've hosted a number of musical heavyweights, Joan Armatrading and Van Morrison being just two artists who have seen the attractions - as Lou Reed might have said, but didn't - of taking a walk on the Severnside.

When we observe the consummate artistry of entertainers like Elton John, it is also worth recalling how they reached the pinnacle of their professions. There was no X-Factor all those years ago when young Reginald Dwight was playing his fingers to the bone for pub drunks, trying to climb the slippery rungs of the ladder to success. Like others of his generation, he paid his dues. In fact, to put it another way... they just don't make 'em like that any more.