- Fabella at Foregate Street -
Friday 20th July 2018 and the three of us make use of a GroupSave off peak return deal when journeying down to Worcester from Wolverhampton. Alighting at Foregate Street Station, we immediately commence our giraffe gathering mission thanks to Fabella, bright red with black pears in the shadow of the landmark railway bridge. Other early contenders include The Dreaming Giraffe (on the courtyard of the Hopmarket) and A Tall Order (a 'head chef' giraffe overlooking Angel Place and the bus station).
- A Crowngate Interloper -
The main trail of 30 giant giraffes is accompanied by a selection of 27 giraffe calves dotted around the malls of the Crowngate Shopping Centre. These smaller specimens have been designed in partnership with local schools and community groups, although my efforts at documenting 'Fun and Happiness' result in a bit of Beardsmore photobombing! The calves can mainly be found along Friary Walk and Chapel Walk although 'Lily the Pink' guards the entrance to Worcester Cathedral.
- Bones -
To High Street now where we can get acquainted with Bones, a skeleton design keeping tabs on the busy lunchtime crowds. The Cornmarket is slightly quieter when introducing us to Arthur the Giraffa in Banana Pyjamas, a definite kiddies favourite brazenly parading about in his jimjams. Also close at hand is Chang Jing Lu, depicted in the style of a Chinese dragon outside the Sports Direct store in the St Martin's Quarter - our safari seems to be going rather well!
- Worceraffe -
New Street and Friar Street combine to present not just giraffes but also some pub photo opportunities thanks to a sequence that includes the King Charles II, the Swan, the Old Greyhound and the Eagle Vaults (with its lovely brown tiled frontage). We refrain from having a pint just yet, instead focusing upon Worceraffe who stands sentry beside Laslett's Almshouses. This design is clearly inspired by Worcester's many architectural gems, including the half-timbered almshouses themselves which were constructed in 1912 to provide accommodation for elderly people of limited means.
- Brew XI in the Sebright Arms -
The time has ticked round to pub o'clock whereby my choice of establishment is the Sebright Arms, a London Road landmark that has latterly been taken on by the Cannon Royall Brewery. Admittedly it's further out of town than I'd anticipated but the walk is interesting, passing the Mount Pleasant Inn, St Martin with St Peter's Church and the Seacrest Fish Bar. Our persistence is rewarded by a throwback interior evoking a sense of 1970s timewarp with musty upholstery and sticky tables. The beer is decent, Arrowhead Bitter for yours truly while Mr B Senior approves of the Brew XI, so we're glad we came.
- Fort Royal Park -
Back along the London Road we go, uncovering an important slice of history at Fort Royal Park. It was here in September 1651 that Parliamentarian forces captured an artillery fort during the Battle of Worcester, hastening the Royalist defeat to bring about the end of the English Civil War. Commemorative cannons mark the spot as the modern-day park offers excellent views of the Worcester skyline and plays host to our next giraffe, the brightly coloured Diversity is Us which celebrates the beauty of being unique.
- Edward Elgar -
From the hilltop park we descend to Sidbury, saying hello to Girafficus in the guise of a Roman legionary - he even has his own shield. The Royal Worcester porcelain museum is where we meet Deco (boasting geometric patterning in reference to the Art Deco period of the 1920s and 1930s), then at Severn Way we can 'Have A Giraffe' in the company of a joke-themed creation adorned with ha ha has and LOLs. I'm not sure what the esteemed composer Edward Elgar would have made of this artistic invasion; his statue on the High Street looks a tad bemused by the presence of Robo-Giraffe's robotic countenance.
- Kneck-er Bocker Glory -
Our giraffe-spotting exploits are put on hold during a luncheon interlude at the Crown, a Wetherspoons based in a prestigious old coaching inn. We partake of ultimate burgers and ham, egg and chips, narrowly averting a tantrum over a John Smiths shortage when the replacement Doom Bar thankfully meets with Mr B Snr's satisfaction. There is some debate over egg preferences (crispy edges? runny yolks?) then dessert comes in the form of Kneck-er Bocker Glory although this is one ice cream that Stephen definitely can't eat. Of all the giraffes this is probably my favourite, wafer cone legs and hundreds and thousands to the fore, not forgetting a long tongue licking away most contentedly.
- Bumble -
The prehistoric playfulness of Giraffic Park briefly tempts us across the river to Cripplegate Park before we buzz along to the Hive, an iconic golden building that houses Europe's first ever joint public/university library facility. As settings go this is a highly-appropriate place to meet Bumble, a bee-themed giraffe with yellow and black stripes and delicate little wings. We're gradually nearing the climax of our safari though Castle Street supplies us with Giraffa Chameleondalis by the far racecourse gates.
- Sociable Stephen -
The end is nigh yet there's time enough for a couple more pub visits prior to our train. The first of these is actually more of a brewery bar, Britannia Road being home to the Sociable Beer Company where Stephen models the soft drinks selection while his dad protests that the Bash is too warm. Table football, a rocking horse and a vinyl vault make this a drinking den with a bit of a difference whereas the Saracens Head is an old-school boozer on the Tything; John Smiths, Hooky and a leg of darts see us right there. The 17:56 departure beckons but not before we've accounted for Swirly Whirly Worcester Land, our final giraffe next to the City Art Gallery & Museum. A total haul of 27 giraffes plus several calves is not bad at all, and our intrepid trio travel home satisfied with their day's work.
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