WORCESTER'S nine centuries-old Cathedral certainly did not escape the effects of the Second World War, though, mercifully, it was spared any damage from German bombers.

I've been learning about the impact of the war on the ancient building from the latest edition of The Shield, the magazine of the Friends of Worcester Cathedral.

In it, assistant editor Jean Davidson draws together fascinating and revealing extracts from the Friends' annual reports of the early 1940s.

For instance, costly measures had to be taken to protect the Cathedral's priceless monuments such as King John's Tomb and Prince Arthur's Chantry - the last resting place of the 15 year-old heir of Henry VII, who died at Ludlow Castle.

His younger brother became Henry VIII and married his widow, Catherine of Aragon.

An extract from the Friends' report of 1942 reads: "Warned by the so-called Baedeker raids on other Cathedral cities, the Dean and Chapter have taken further precautions. The most precious of the historic manuscripts have been stored with those of the British Museum, and a complete series of nearly 300 photographs of the monuments and architectural details of the Cathedral have been prepared.

"Prince Arthur's Chantry and King John's Tomb have been enclosed in brick and concrete shells, and other important monuments have been protected by sandbags. Seven Friends have contributed no less than £675 towards the heavy cost of this work, the balance being met by the Dean and Chapter."

Alas, all the iron railings around the Cathedral grounds were removed and taken away to be melted down for wartime munitions.

Another extract records that "the Cathedral bells broke silence for the victory of El Alamein on November 15, 1942, and again on Christmas Day. The Choral services have been maintained without diminution."

In 1943, the Friends reported that "the appeal for clothing coupons to enable us to provide cassocks for the Cathedral choristers met with an immediate response and the new cassocks were ready by Christmas Day.

The Epiphany Service was thronged with children and has now become so well known and so popular, not only in Worcester, but beyond."

A report of the then Dean, the Very Rev Arthur Davies reveals that in July 1944, the Cathedral became the temporary refuge of a large group of women and children evacuees from London.

"They were driven out of south-west London by the flying bombs and were accommodated in College Hall and in the Cathedral cloisters for a week. During this time, the Chapter House was also transformed into a creche."

Clearly, however, the end of the war appeared in sight because the Dean went on to report at the end of 1944: "The sandbags have been removed from the monuments. How soon we shall be able to remove the brick and concrete protecting Prince Arthur's Chantry, it is impossible to say. The problem is to find the necessary labour."

The Dean went on: "A large number of special services were held during the last year. One of the most moving was a Parade service of the Worcestershire Yeomanry, now the 53rd Air Landing Light Regiment, Royal Artillery. The Regiment had lately taken part in the Battle of Normandy."

Another extract from a wartime Friends' report announced that "a moveable nave altar and a handsome frontal made of brocade and used in Westminster Abbey at the Coronation of King George VI have been presented to the Cathedral by Lord and Lady Baldwin."

Earl Baldwin of Bewdley, who lived at Astley, had, of course, been three times British Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin. His ashes and those of his wife lie beneath a plaque near the western end of the Cathedral nave.