I love accents and thank the lord that in this country we have some many different and diverse accents. And certainly in the two shires we have many different ways of speaking the English language, at least I think that's what we are speaking !!! Go from Kington in North Herefordshire with the Welsh-border lilt, to Evesham in the south of Worcestershire where there's a very different sound. From Kidderminster and the North Worcestershire area where many, but not all, have a Brummigum twang, and then off down to Ross where there's a hint of the rounded Gloucestershire tones. Having been bought up in a Worcestershire village I got used to some of the old boys and the way they spoke. But 'incomers'Ìýoften had a big problem! Asking the way if you got lost around Martley could present some problems !! I recall one old guy who shall remain nameless as his relatives are still around, but he used to come and watch us play cricket. He told a joke which included a vicar, wasp (or warsp) as he called it, and a 'afercruwn' ( half-a-crown or two and six). Now he told this joke many times, but got so excited when he got to the punch line that no-one, not even I, a local, could understand what he said. I remember once asking a bloke in the pub, how is wife was. "Byunsergud since yumuns ester scarpered". This meant that she was a bit upset as her cat had run off. He also told me one day that his son was so thin "Edn't fill a glat inaÌý udge". Translation: "He would not fill a hole in a hedge". I well recall being a bit lost round Evesham one day, in a former job and I stopped to ask an old boy if he could tell me the way to Ebrington...Eb...ring...ton. "Never yerd of it", says he. In the end I showed him the address on my bit of paper. "Are, you means Yuber-tun". Accents, long may they survive! | 
