A SPECIAL gift has been presented to the people of Malvern as a sign of friendship from the other side of the Atlantic.

Cllr John Raine, chairman of Malvern Hills District Council, was presented with a wine glass from Malverne Historical Society in New York State as a way of formally recognising the link between the two areas.

As well as being etched with the society’s name it also features a picture of Malverne’s museum.

The glass was handed over by Cora Weaver, of Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells, who had been given it by the mayor of the incorporated village of Malverne during a recent trip to America.

Malverne is situated close to New York City on land that was once the tribal territory of the Rockaway Indians.

It was named by Ernest Childs, an executive of a chemical company which helped fund the development of the area, who was originally from England.

He knew of Malvern because of its green spaces and yearly George Bernard Shaw theatre festival, and offered the name as a suggestion which was accepted. Why the E was added to the end remains an unsolved mystery.

The glass will now go on show in the Council House in Avenue Road, along with numerous other gifts presented to the people of Malvern over the years.

Cllr Raine said: “I am delighted and honoured to accept this gift from Malverne, New York. Thank you to everyone who works hard to promote and foster the links between our great town and other Malverns around the world.

“Our eldest son lives and works in New York, so when we next visit cross the Atlantic to see him, hopefully in 2017, we will ensure we pay a visit to Malverne there and will reciprocate with a memento from Malvern, Worcestershire."

Mrs Weaver said: “The Friends of Malvern Springs and Wells are endeavouring to link all the Malverns worldwide in a wheel of friendship, with Malvern UK as the hub."