>The English have a long tradition of names that are spelled very
>differently than how they're pronounced.
> They also have a Leicester, pronounced LESS'teh,

I've heard the British town (or at least the square in London) as LEES-ter.
The town just west of Worcester (aka Wormtown) is Less-ter/teh.

On a side note, it's become a reflexive action for me to correct everyone that calls me on the phone as to the pronunciation of a town in which I've lived for... dear Gods Above and Below, between 25 and 26 years now.

On another side note, happy number 32 to me...

-- pf