The early bird caught the…

Vicar, broadcasting to the nation (well, OK, to Hereford and Worcestershire) on the BBC just after 8am this morning.

And it seems there were plenty in Rod’s audience, as visitors queued to climb the Priory’s tower and take in the glorious views from well before it opened.

There was plenty going on at ground level, too, for as soon as Morning Prayer had ended, the trusty Priory urn could be heard singing gently as it approached the boil, attended, as always, by its dedicated band of tea and coffee-making volunteers.

Today, being a Welcome Day, there were homemade cakes aplenty, from delicious lemon drizzle, via chocolate-topped fairy cakes, to ginger cake and buttered hot cross buns, fresh from the oven, and much more, all served with a smile and a welcoming word by the Priory-pinnyed volunteers.

Visitors were treated to piano music and the Priory Handbell Ringers, who started their performance with the old favourite ‘Hot Cross Buns’, although by then, the buns in question had all been consumed along with copious amounts of cake and gallons of tea.

At the time of writing, there’s just one more opportunity to climb the Tower today, at 3pm, so hurry along if you’re planning to come. All’s not lost if you can’t make it today, as we expect to open the Tower again, later in the year.