The recent inauguration of Donald Trump as President of the United States has brought UK/US relations into focus. Gloucester can lay claim to more than a few connections with our friends across the pond.

Perhaps the most important is the fact that the music for the US National Anthem, the ‘Star-Spangled Banner’, was written by John Stafford Smith, the son of a Gloucester Cathedral organist. Stafford Smith originally wrote the tune as a drinking song. The words for the anthem were later written during a war between Britain and the US and paired with the music. In November 2019, the then US Ambassador Woody Johnson visited Gloucester at my invitation and heard the anthem played on the Cathedral organ, which he found quite emotional.

The 30th of March this year marks the 275th anniversary of Stafford Smith’s baptism in Gloucester Cathedral. Even more significantly, next year marks the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. The second signatory to it was Button Gwinnett, who was born at Down Hatherley, just outside Gloucester. His father was vicar of Down Hatherley but was also the curate of St Nicholas’ Church in Westgate Street. For a while the family lived in College Green, and Button is believed to have attended the College School (now King’s School).

Rumours that Barack Obama would watch the USA play at Kingsholm

In December 2000, it was reported that one of George W Bush’s ancestors, Charles Hoare, was Sheriff of Gloucester in 1634. When it was announced that the USA were to play at Kingsholm in the Rugby World Cup 2015, there were rumours that the then President, Barack Obama, would come to watch them. The Prime Minister at the time, David Cameron, said he’d try to convince Obama “that he’s a Shed Head”. Alas, it didn’t work!

Even Donald Trump himself can claim a Gloucester connection, albeit a pretty tenuous one. In 2017, it was reported that a Cadillac Limousine formerly owned by Trump was for sale through a Gloucester-based car dealer for a cool £50,000.

If ‘The Donald’ is offered another State Visit to the UK, he might just be tempted to take a detour along the M4 to check out the US connections in Gloucester.