paulo
Starise
Sorry I can't help myself, why are there three pears? Shouldn't there be two. Three can still be a pear? There must be some deeper meaning to the three pairs..eh pears. Family crest maybe.Maybe someone ate one.Maybe at one time there were two pairs of pears.
I know, I ask too many questions...
It was supposed to be 3 arses, but then it all went pear-shaped.
Starise, the 'three pears' are actually the city's coat of arms, or part of it anyway:
Legend has it that the locals had re-planted a pear tree (one of the local varieties, known as the
black pear) near to the gate where Queen Elizabeth I entered the city walls on a visit in 1575. On noticing the tree, she is said to have directed the city's aldermen to add the symbol to the coat of arms.
The origin of the city's motto,
Civitas In Bello Et Pace Fidelis - ([The] City Faithful in War and Peace) goes all the way back to the time of the English Civil War (1642–1651), and in particular to its final skirmish - The Battle Of Worcester (1651). Charles II lost the battle in an attempt to regain the crown, and then fled into the city where he hid in his headquarters (the building still stands and is called
King Charles's House) before finally escaping in disguise to France.
On his return from exile in 1660 (in the Restoration Of The Monarchy), Charles II gave Worcester the epithet
Fidelis Civitas (The Faithful City) in recognition of the citizens' loyalty to the Royalist side during the War, and in particular their part in safeguarding his escape from certain capture. The "In War and Peace" part was added and the motto was born.
We do have another two occasionally used mottos, both featuring the 'faithful' theme:
Floreat Semper Fidelis Civitas (Let the Faithful City Ever Flourish) and
Semper Fidelis Mutare Sperno (Ever Faithful, I Scorn to Change).