Travel and parking
Traffic in Worcester can be busy. If you are driving you may wish to consider using the Park and Ride service running from Perdiswell, on the north side of the city (John Comyn Drive, Droitwich Road, Perdiswell, Worcester, WR3 7NS). Travel for the day costs £2.20 including parking, and additional passengers who are under 19 pay £1.00 per person. You will need ID to prove your age to buy the under-19 ticket. If there are several of you in one vehicle you may wish to buy a Group Park and Travel ticket for £3.50, which covers the driver and up to 6 passengers.
Alternatively there are various car parks available in the city. Car parking charges are listed on the Worcester City Council website. Croft Road car park is the only one that has bays for bigger vehicles. These are in limited supply, so if you are bringing a coach or minibus we recommend you arrive early. There is a useful map showing all the car parks.
If you are travelling by train, Foregate Street station is approximately 10 minutes’ walk from the Cathedral; Shrub Hill is a little further away at 15-20 minutes’ walk.
Worcester Cathedral is 5-10 minutes’ walk from all city centre towers – Old St Martin, St Swithun and All Saints. St John-in-Bedwardine is walkable in about 20 minutes, while St Stephen, Barbourne is about 1.5 miles away; the Founders’ Company has paid for a shuttle bus to take you to Barbourne and St John if you do not want to walk. The bus will pick up and drop off at College Yard, on the north side of the Cathedral (see printed brochure for times). You will need your wristband to get on the bus. Barbourne is also served by the 144 public bus service every 15-minutes from the Crowngate bus station; there is a stop immediately outside St Stephen’s Church
Team registration
Registration for the teams drawn 1st, 2nd and 3rd will take place at Old St Martin in the Cornmarket, and you should head there first. All other teams should go to the Cathedral’s Chapter House to register; please register by 1pm at the very latest and before you visit any of the towers. All participants and supporters will be given a wristband which you should wear when visiting any of the towers. This will help our team of stewards to identify who is and isn’t a ringer as well as granting you access to the shuttle bus and discount at Pizza Express and McDonald’s. Please assist our stewards by wearing your wristband all day.
The Contest
Teams should arrive at Old St Martin in the Cornmarket in plenty of time for their Contest slot. Team photographs will be taken at the Church 10 minutes before each team rings.
Catering
Morning refreshments in the Cathedral’s Chapter House will be on sale from 09:00 to 11:00 and include bacon rolls, tea and coffee. The Cloister Café, also in the Cathedral, will be open between 09:30 and 16:30; it serves a selection of drinks, light lunches and cakes. Drinks will be available at Old St Martin and at All Saints while those towers are open. Your RWNYC 2014 wristband and programme will get you a discount at McDonald’s and Pizza Express throughout the weekend. The evening social, for which there is a charge of £5, includes a Hog Roast and soft drinks.
Information point
The registration desk in the Chapter House will double as an information point. There will be a second information point at Old St Martin, the competition tower. Stewards will be wearing blue Worcester Cathedral polo shirts and either black or purple wristbands. Any questions, please do ask one!
Emergency contact information
Details of people to contact in an emergency:
Worcester Mark Regan 07971 573688Jim Clatworthy 07891 247598
Alex Hajok 07967 971227 Ringing World Colin Parker 07947 316107
First aid
A First Aid kit will be available at the Chapter House and at each tower during the day. For more serious issues, there is an Accident and Emergency unit at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, Charles Hastings Way, Worcester, WR5 1DD; phone 01905 763333. If you need directions, ask any steward.
