18 Sep 2024
We ask a different figure from the local community to choose 10 questions to answer from a list of 50. This week: Legendary landlord David Worcester, who runs The Lower Red Lion in Fishpool Street, which recently made international news headlines for a sign declaring it was a child-free pub.
Where do you walk when you want to think?
Heartwood, obviously. Nowhere else, locally, matches the purpose of getting lost for an hour or so with the dogs. Just love it there, whatever the weather.
Do you ever Google yourself? Well I do now!! Never have before and probably never will again as the first page you find is “David Worcester, lead pastor and planter of Compass Church in the San Diego State area”, second is his Insta where he purports to be “follower of Jesus, husband of…blah, blah.” Defo not me then!
What was your first job?
First PAID job (c£1.82 per hour) was aged about 14 or 15, standing in the car park of the old Hemel Ski Club (when it was a plastic slope) directing the cars where to park. It was snowing, I was well underdressed for the occasion, and the first car I directed reversed into a tree. I lasted about four hours before it was mutually agreed that I was probably best suited on the slope, not in the car park.
What’s your favourite St Albans pub?
Too easy… There are lots of close seconds, but it would be unprofessional of me to single them all out.
If you had a time machine, what year would you choose to visit and why?
Can I change one word of this and answer what place would I choose? I’d love to just go back in time at various points in the last couple of hundred years and see what life was like then at the Lower Red. It’s been a licensed premises since at least 1767, Fishpool Street was a slum and I’ve always wanted to be a fly on the wall, see what life was like in here then.
What was your best subject at school?
Best? Or favourite? Either way it was French.
Who was your first best friend?
Jonathan Sansom. He was a lovely kid who lived ten doors down from me when we lived in Potters Bar. I’ve not seen him in probably 38 years. I hope he’s well and happy.
Have you ever had a nickname?
Lots that I know about and probably more I don’t (or do, but people think I don’t!) As a kid I was “Diddy” (Jonathan above was Dondy because I couldn’t pronounce his actual name). My uncle continued to call me Diddy until his death last year aged 92 (- I’m 51 years old!!!). At school I was “Saucy” amongst others. There are more; of that I’m certain…
Dogs or cats?
You could ask me dogs or [insert ANY animal here] and the answer would be dogs. Children? Dogs. Cute bunnies? Dogs. Red pandas? Close call, but still dogs. You get the picture.
Where do you buy your coffee in St Albans?
I do love a coffee and for me, Nkora if I’m this end of town, or Street Café if I’m up near Catherine Street.
