Research has begun on my new, as yet untitled play for Pentabus. I returned to Ludlow last week for a few days, Pentabus’ tour de force Jenny, organised a swathe of meetings with people from the town.

I was delighted to be returning to Ludlow, I planned to catch up with some friends I made back in May, do plenty of research into a play, but mainly if I’m honest to eat as many pork sandwhiches from Vaughans sandwhich shop as possible. I have dreamt about those pork sandwhiches for 6 months and now was my chance to make up for lost time.

First up on arrival on Friday was lunch with Pentabus Artistic Director Orla O’Loughlin. But before lunch, I took a quick detour to Vaughans and wolfed down a pork sandwhich with extra crackling. Met up with Orla, touched base (politely ate a Thai meal) and was straight in to meeting Tamsin of Olive stall fame. Tamsin got me thinking about what different opportunities there are for boys than there are for girls in the countryside.

After Tamisn I met the Mayor who gave me a fascinating insight into the machiney behind a town like Ludlow. He also had quite possibly the biggest kitchen I’ve ever seen outside of ‘Cribs’. The Mayor and delightful dog Henry gave me a taste of the administrative matrix that runs Ludlow and got me onto the army of volunteers who run the various organisations in town.

After the Mayor I checked in and headed into town to the Church pub where I met with Jenny and the La Becasse posse. I had a great day with the Michelen starred chef Will Holland, Swaino, Warwick last year working in their kitchen. So it was great to meet new additions Andy and Marcos. Although Quayle and Tim were sadly missed. I promised myself to mark their passing with a pork sandwhich tomorrow.

Friday I met with Phil Mayal former landlord of the Bull and now running the food festival. Phil was able to give me two sides of Ludlow, the one side - Ludlow’s pride and joy, where the great and the good pull together to put Ludlow on the map at the food festival. And the other side, Ludlow at night, with it’s trousers down. All excellent stuff.

In between I met with Orla for lunch, but it was a bit late and I was worried about getting in my daily Vaughan’s fix. After she left to go to the gym, I slipped off to claim my sandwich only to find no pork at the inn. 2.30pm is the cut off point for Pork. I make a mental note to be a bit withdrawn next time I see Orla.

Next was Phil Johnstone who gave me the cultural spin on Ludlow, how the Assembly rooms and various organisations, support and are supported by the vital arts and film centre, as well as articulating the appeal of Ludlow so eloquently ‘it’s like France 30 years ago’.

Then came the weekend’s winner - a night in the Church pub with finest women in Shropshire if not the world. Penny, Vicky, Sally and Camilla gave me the women’s side of the coin in Ludlow. And the prize goes to Camilla for the best ‘perfect day in Ludlow’ answer.

All these lovely people helped foster a sense of the town, and pulled my ideas for the play in all sorts of directions, but hopefully their insight will bring an honest rigour to the story that will make me feel confident when Pentabus bring the play to town.

Train left at 11.25, Pork didn’t start till 12. Robbed again.

Tim Price