Student given rare pilgrimage honour

Summer Green was given the role after spending two weeks promoting the pilgrimage this summer

A University of Worcester student has been chosen to be the UK Ambassador of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

The university said Summer Green was the first British person to be given the honour.

The third-year English Literature and Language student joined a select group of international volunteers who spent two weeks volunteering on the Camino while completing the 40km (25 mile) route.

She said as an ambassador she would work to raise awareness of the pilgrimage and "champion it to the next generation and make sure more people know about it".

The Camino de Santiago is a pilgrimage route which leads to Santiago de Compostela.

The University of Worcester said it was the only UK university to be a member of the Compostela Group of Universities, a global network that celebrates and promotes the values embodied by this ancient route.

Ms Green's visit to Spain was organised through the University of Zaragoza and the Association of Municipalities of the Camino de Santiago.

She said: "When I saw the opportunity I jumped at it.

"I've always loved Spain - the language, the music, the culture, the food and the dancing, and I shared these experiences with people from all over the world."

While she was volunteering she said she would tell people on the route about the pilgrimage and also to talk to the pilgrims and hear their stories.

She said: "The word 'pilgrim' can give you a stereotype of what that person should look like, but it could literally be anyone."