This blue strip of light still startles me whenever I walk at night along St Edmunds Lane, and past the entrance to Neave Mews. The sculpture by Philip Bews and Diane Gorvin was constructed almost a year ago, as were the houses of Neave Mews.

Airey Neave was the member of parliament for Abingdon until March 30th 1979. He is famous for being the first person to escape to freedom from Colditz (the second world war pOW camp). He then became a spy for the rest of the war.

This modern housing estate has Electric Gates, and three-story houses round a courtyard. One entrance is through the gate, and the other is under an archway at the Foyer. I can imagine Airey Neave in a German uniform quietly making his way to the gate, and in perfect German talking to the guards before making his way through to a boat waiting for him on the River.