LET it be made quite clear from the start, Mr Ray Perks, who looks down on Worcestershire County Cricket Club's ground from his office somewhere up in the sky and over the river, should not be confused with the similarly named and legendary Mr Reg Perks, who bestrode that same playing pitch with such success for so many years.

Stacking one Ray on top of another would roughly equal one Reg.

"It has been pointed out to me I have a very similar name to one of Worcester's most famous sportsmen, but sadly I am no cricket star." said the new steward of Worcester Cathedral.

However, the Cathedral authorities have obviously done their best to make the new man feel at home, because his headquarters are up endless flights of stairs in a period house facing College Green on one side and the River Severn on the other.

This bird's-nest location both puts him much nearer the Almighty and gives a natural working environment for someone who for many years was in the RAF.

It has become something of a tradition for the post at the administrative heart of Worcester Cathedral to be occupied by a former Services officer.

"My immediate predecessor, Michael Lumley, was a Royal Navy man, and the Cathedral Steward before him had been in the Army. So I'm honour-bound not to let down the Royal Air Force," observed Mr Perks,

There seems little danger of this affable, easy-mannered man doing that, for he comes with a strong track record in the modern business dictum of "human resources", plus a solid financial background and a sound understanding of ecclesiastical life.

He was previously a squadron leader in the Administrative (Secretarial) Branch of the RAF and for the past seven years has been assistant secretary of St. Clement Danes (RAF) Church of Oranges and Lemons fame.

He is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries.

In a way, moving to Worcester Cathedral represents a "coming home", for his family have roots in the Pinvin area, where his uncle, Dick Perks, was a well-known character and for many years ran a bike shop on the Evesham road.

However, Ray's father, who was also in the RAF, travelled throughout the world and, for the most part, the family went with him. Perks junior received much of his education at a military school in Malta.

In 1970 he also joined the RAF.

IN appropriately religious terms, Ray Perks believes he brings to the steward's job "the creed of the administrator".

This involves expertise in personnel management, finance and organisational skills.

"I see my job as pulling together all the various strands of Cathedral life to create an efficient and effective management," he said.

"The costs of running Worcester Cathedral are considerable and it has to be run as a business and run efficiently, although it doesn't have a profit motive.

"I know at Wells Cathedral they make a point of saying their running costs are £2,500 per day and I expect the figure would be roughly equivalent at Worcester.

"Although the 'business' is financially sound, I feel it would benefit from having a bit more breathing space in its finances, which would give more potential to expand.

"We could create a much-needed visitors' centre and generally put a gloss on the place.

"What we need is more money coming in on a regular basis.

"Because of its history and status, the Cathedral is a significant part of Worcester and it should be more than just a building at the end of High Street. It should feel special to everyone."

That is the aim of the new steward, married to Angela, with a teenage son Matthew and who lists his hobbies as photography, classic cars and flying.

So he arrives at Worcester Cathedral on a wing and a prayer and we hope all the decisions of the great umpire in the sky go his way.