One week and 3000 miles apart

Last Sunday morning. Making my way up to the top of British Camp in Malvern, UK.

This Sunday morning. On the beach in Dubai.

A visit to Malvern and a trip down memory lane

For 3 weeks in August/September, Peter and I were traveling around the UK, visiting family and friends.

We moved to Malvern in 2002, where we raised our 5 children for 8 years, before moving to South Africa and now Dubai.

We've made a couple of trips back to Malvern over the past 6 years, where we rent out our family home and make time to catch up with friends.

On this visit we spent 3 nights at The Montrose Hotel in the town and took a trip down memory lane.

The Garden at the hotel

The Winter Gardens or Priory Park

This tree is over 150 years old

Our youngest wouldn't walk over this wooden bridge and we'd always have to wait for him to go the long way round. Behind is the town's swimming pool.

The bandstand with the theatre in the back ground

The tree of life, where we'd sponsor a light in memory of my Gran

The view of the bandstand from the theatre

One of the many paths 

C S Lewis was a pupil at Malvern College and along with J R R Tolkien was a regular visitor to Malvern and took his inspiration for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from these Victorian gas street lights. Tolkien is also recorded as saying the Malvern Hills reminded him of 'The White Hills of Gondor'

Great Malvern Priory

The grave of Charles Darwin's only child, Annie, who died aged 10

Malvern Spring Water is still bottled in the town. The Wells have been 'dressed' since the 12th century to give thanks to St Oswald for the water cures. Queen Victoria refused to travel without Malvern Spring Water and Elizabeth 1st would drink the water in public. 

Great Malvern and statue of Edward Elgar, composer of Pomp and Circumstance, better known as Land of Hope and Glory.

Looking down the town

Great malvern Train Station, opened in 1862

A game of petanque being played in the distance

Designed by sculptor William Forsyth 

Public toilets in Barnards Green

Morgan Motor Car Company

Pickersleigh Park, home to Malvern Town Wanderers Football Club, where most of my Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons were spent for 8 years 

Malvern Common

The best sledging spot in the whole of Malvern

View of the Malvern Hills

View from the Malvern Hills