ABC: Ashley in Birmingham and Coventry

Ashley the Traveling Teddy, ursine ambassador for Meredith Schroeder’s third-grade class at St. Joseph Consolidated School in Hamilton, Ohio, has been touring the Heart of England. The Traveling Teddy program is a geography outreach of the Society of American Travel Writers.

• In Birmingham, Ashley watched as docent Ruth Allen demonstrated jewelers’ skills in the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.

Ashley checks out the baubles at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter in Birmingham, England. Betsa Marsh photo

Just checking her weight at the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter. Betsa Marsh photo

• In Coventry, Ashley toured the ruins of the medieval cathedral, bombed in World War II, and the new St. Michael’s Cathedral next door. In the Herbert Art Gallery, she met up with an armless knight.
  

  Ashley with the knight at the Herbert Art Gallery, Coventry. Betsa Marsh photo

• Ashley toured Warwick Castle and pretended she was the chatelaine!

Ashley as chatelaine of magnificent Warwick Castle. Betsa Marsh photo

• She did get to dream of mansions during her overnight at Hanbury Hall in Droitwich, a 1701 stately home with apartments run by the National Trust. She and Betsa stayed in the South Wing! And met some children playing on the lawn.

Ashley with Luke, Ellie, Samuel and Danny at Hanbury Hall. Betsa Marsh photo

• And to round out her trip, Ashley went cruising on the Birmingham canals, enjoying dinner on the Away2dine narrowboat. Ahh, this is the life!

Ashley on the Away2dine narrowboat on the Birmingham canals. Betsa Marsh photo