SIR – Years ago, in the early 1960s, I was at a little prep school in Little Malvern and we could see Bredon Hill in the distance from our classroom windows.

I always remember catching the Cathedrals Express steam train from Paddington in May 1963.

It was a two-hour journey via Reading, Oxford, Kingham, Moreton-in- Marsh, Evesham, Worcester Shrub Hill, Worcester Foregate Street, Malvern Link and eventually Great Malvern.

Here we caught the awaiting coaches to take us to school in Little Malvern.

I have happy memories of tramping the Malvern Hills and have written this about them.

BREDON HILL
Across the Vale of Evesham – there stands fair Bredon Hill Immortalised by Housman – delighting people still Her winding lanes are narrow to Parson’s Folly top Here visitors can pause a while at their picnic stop.

What views to misty Malvern – looming steeply now British Camp and Beacons – mini mountain brow Dreaming of Gerontius and Elgar stirring sounds Echoing and echoing over rising grounds.

Tewkesbury – a distant glimpse – its Abbey church divine Used to pass through Ripple – on the railway line Cotswold – brooding background – with such lovely names No longer local stations – like Cheltenham St James.

Back to busy London – make an early start Bredon Hill – dramatic – time alas to part Remembering those rambles – on gently strolling feet By the Severn Meadows – where Choral counties meet.

STEVE GLASON
Diss, Norfolk