Worcester Cathedral is celebrating being shortlisted in two categories at this year’s Visit Worcestershire Tourism Awards.
The Cathedral’s famous Christmas Tree Festival is a finalist in the Festival & Event of the Year category, and Cathedral ferryman of four decades, Mark Glossop, has been shortlisted in the Unsung Hero category. The outcome of the Festival & Event category will be decided by a public vote, and can be vote for now, by clicking here https://visitengland-chapters.secure-platform.com/a/organizations/wor/gallery/rounds/368/details/32832.
Each December the Medieval Cloister is adorned with a glittering avenue of Christmas trees innovatively designed by local schools, charities, businesses and other organisations. The Christmas Tree Festival is extremely popular and attracts many thousands of visitors each year.
Last year’s festival saw more trees than ever, with 135 participants and for the first time ever, branched out into the Chapter House. This year’s festival will be open to visit from Thursday 5 December 2024 until Monday 6 January 2025 (excluding Christmas Eve and Christmas Day), during normal visiting hours.
Further details on visiting the Christmas Trees will be released closer to the time, so please keep an eye on the Cathedral website and social media channels for updates. The second category sees Mark Glossop shortlisted, one of the founders (and rower!) of the Cathedral ferry since 1983, who retired this year - after 41 years at the helm!
The Cathedral Ferry has been rowing people across the River Severn from the Water Gate for over 600 years. It has a rich history dating back to the 12th century when it provided a direct and convenient crossing for monks and milkmaids to cross the river to work in the meadows and the Priory of Hardwick in St John's.
The ferry crossed the river every day until the late 1950s. The service was restarted in 1983, when the current boat 'Doris' was launched.
Since its inception, Mark volunteered to run and row the boat. he was contacted by Nicola Milne, wife of the then Head Master of King’s School, over concerns about the distance students were walking in order to access playing fields on the other side of the river after Saturday school.
Mrs Milne ear-marked Mark as someone who would lend a hand to address the problem. Fundraising began and they decided a vessel to ferry the boys across the river and back was needed on Saturdays, and with the agreement of the then British Waterways, the idea came to fruition.
Mark sourced the boat when on holiday in Dorset that year. He found a strong, sturdy, wide vessel, built circa 1960, and it's the same ferry that still runs today. Originally called Moonraker (probably after the James Bond film), it was decided to rename the boat Doris (after Doris Kinnersley - a local woman who did much for local good causes).
It wasn't plain sailing, and Mark set to uncovering the steps on the opposite side of the river, which had long since disappeared into the overgrowth. He dug them out by hand and over the years has also been instrumental in securing new railings, as well as maintaining 'Doris' to continue the task at hand.
The Cathedral Ferry currently operates on Saturdays but at Bank Holiday weekends on the Sunday and Monday as well, from April to September, 1.15pm - 5.15pm. You can hop on 'Doris' the ferry down by the Water Gate and cross the river for 50p per person, taking in the spectacular views of the Cathedral from the river*.
*Weather permitting.
Mark said: "I am astonished but delighted that the efforts of the team are being recognised in this way.
“This has always been a team effort and I could not have done it without a lot of helpers, including several who have been involved for over 30 years. Happily, a new team has emerged to take it forward - perhaps for another forty years!
“At one time there were dozens of ferries on the Severn, including at least three in Worcester itself, and it is good to keep the tradition going. The ferry provides an unusual and largely unexpected attraction to visitors and has raised over £20,000 for local causes - so long may it continue!"
