Back in September, Gloucester Day took place in the city. Historically, it celebrates the lifting of the Siege of Gloucester in the Civil War, but these days it also promotes everything that’s good about the city and brings the community together.

A relatively recent Gloucester Day tradition is a video call linking some of the Gloucesters from around the world, which has become known as ‘Global Gloucester Day’. The Mayor and Sheriff joined the call, along with representatives from Gloucester Massachusetts, Gloucester County Virginia and Gloucester Township, New Jersey.

The tradition follows on from the visit of Carol Steele, County Administrator from Gloucester County Virginia, to our city on Gloucester Day 2022, when Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also joined us for the occasion. In fact, the idea of linking the Gloucesters around the world, known as the Gloucester Collaboration, was inspired by the Duke’s visit to Gloucester County Virginia in 2018. This county was named after Henry Stuart, Duke of Gloucester, the third son of King Charles I. The Collaboration has a website where you can find more information and watch a recording of the Gloucester Day video call – www.gloucestercollaboration.org

12 inhabited places called Gloucester across the world

Overall, there are 12 inhabited places called Gloucester around the world – at least, that’s how many we’ve found so far! The majority are in the USA, including a town in Maine and a community in North Carolina to add to those already mentioned. There are also places in Canada, Australia and Sierra Leone.

Our hope is that, over time, more of the 12 communities will join the Global Gloucester Day call so we can learn from each other and share our cultures – something made much easier these days by technology like Zoom.

2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence – something with which our city can claim some connections, being the birthplace of Button Gwinnett (one of the signatories) and John Stafford Smith (who wrote the music used for the Star-Spangled Banner). I hope we will be able to find a memorable way of celebrating this with the other Gloucesters from across the pond.