91Èȱ¬

It's an old chestnut I know but we couldn't resist!

This innocuous place on the A40 causes so much strife. Over is pronounced two ways and whichever way we say it produces a spicy response.

I read out the following email this morning...have a read and then look at the responses to the email below. Fell free to comment!

Hi Mark, thanks for a brilliant show, it wakes me every morning on my clock radio and the diversity of its topics makes it very entertaining and informative.

Only one gripe though, I continue to listen to your show in my car on the way to work and invariably am told about the heavy traffic between the Highnam roundabout and the A40 at Ooooover. I lived in Gloucester for most of my life and still work there but never have I heard the pronunciation Oooover ! My workmates are all Gloucester folk born and bred and they have never heard the pronunciation either.

If it is Oooover, then why don't we have Oooover Farm Market, The Wharf House at Oooover, and the Oooover carvery ?

Please can you clarify as I'm gritting my teeth every time that I hear it!!
All the best and keep up the Brilliant start to the day, (apart from Oooover that is).
Here is the response...

- Hi Mark...Gloucester born and bred, and have always known it as Uver, not Over, in the 43 years I've been here...Michael St Michael's Square
- David in Cirencester says his family were from Newent and it was always called Oooover. It's good to keep the old traditions alive eg Down Amney - new people call it Down Ampney, as it's spelt, but all the locals call it Amney
- Rob in Brockworth says just because parents used to call it ooover when they were young, that doesn't mean its correct!! He claims he only hears it on the radio now.
- A text says we've called it oover since the 1940s.
- Lesley in Quedgeley said she was taught it was ooover by her grandparents.
- Graham from Gloucester said his mum taught him how to pronounce it and says if it was good enough for her, its good enough for him!
- A lady caller said in the 1940s everyone called it oover hospital.
- Connie Smith grew up in Westgate Street and it was always Oooover - the reason over farm is different is because it's new!

Claire's solution is to say "over " on Mondays and Tuesdays, and "Oooover" on Thursdays and Fridays. We're not sure what to do on Wednesdays ...