Potterheads will be already be familiar with the formidable Quidditch team, the Tutshill Tornados, with Tutshill – the rural Gloucestershire village where JK Rowling lived as a child – now officially granted honorary ‘Quidditch Town’ status.
The Forest of Dean village, near Chepstow, was given the ‘Quidditch Town’ status on Tuesday 6 October 2020 in a presentation to mark Tutshill’s role in a new Harry Potter companion book, Quidditch Through The Ages: Illustrated Edition, written by JK Rowling and illustrated by Emily Gravett, which went on sale in hardback the same day.
To celebrate the release of the latest book in the Harry Potter franchise, Bloomsbury Publishing held social distanced mayoral ceremonies in 11 towns featured in the wizarding world’s Quidditch league, with the Tutshill ceremony attended by District Councillor Nick Evans and local school children.
Nick Evans said: ‘I’m delighted Tutshill has been recognised as an Honorary Quidditch Town, recognising our area’s place in the sport’s history. Harry Potter’s favourite sport Quidditch brings joy to children and adults around the world, and I hope people from across the globe will be drawn to the beautiful Wye Valley to see for themselves what else our area has to offer.
‘I’ll be asking our fabulous local schools to share custody of our decorative banner, emblazoned with our team colours, to inspire our next generation with a love of both literature and sport.’
Other official Quidditch towns include Caerphilly, Portree, Falmouth and Wimbourne.
Order Quidditch Through The Ages from amazon.co.uk. Also see 8 magical links between Harry Potter and Gloucestershire
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