●OUT-GOING Worcester Mayor Andy Roberts is fascinated by the pivotal role the city played during the Civil War.

He has also noted with interest the visit by American president Thomas Jefferson in the late 18th century, when the former rebel colonist held up the city as being a cradle of democracy and freedom.

It’s hard not to constantly make the link with the great battle of September, 1651. Wherever you walk in Worcester, there are reminders – the Commandery, Fort Royal, Friar Street – of that momentous day when the Royalist dream was shattered.

Of course, some of the old sites are now covered in houses. The Parliamentarian advance from Bunns Hill – now part of St Peter’s – towards Fort Royal moved over where my house now stands.

I sometimes think of this when sitting in the garden with a glass of red on a balmy early September evening. Perhaps that rustling in the leylandii is not a hedgehog but a roundhead who’s lost his way.

Better pour myself another to steady my nerves… ●I AM reliably informed that Worcester actor Ben Humphrey has the finest pair of legs this side of the Severn.

My informant is a person of the female persuasion, I hasten to add. Nevertheless, even I was duped for a second or two during last year’s Shakespeare at the Commandery when I momentarily – and foolishly – thought that such magnificent pins could only belong to a lady.

Ben appeared in the Swan panto last Christmas, performing the starring role in Dick Whittington.

The fairer sex no doubt needed to have copious amounts of sal volatile to hand as they sought to avoid a mass attack of the vapours.

Indeed, I was almost tempted to request the emergency services laid on a fleet of ambulances on standby, just in case. It was not necessary – but if the young fop appears in this summer’s Bard bash, I may have to review the situation.