At the top of West St Helen Street, the barriers have now been removed. Pedestrians can once again use the pavement on the left when heading up to High Street, and the alleyway leading down to the back of the Grapes pub, and the rear of other properties, is open again.

On the Market Place, members of the Christ Army Charismatic Ministries were offering food to people passing by — rice and peas and spices, chicken and salad. One young woman explained that they were also there to share the ‘good news’. The group meets at Larkmead School and grew from a small gathering that began near Dalton Barracks. They now serve food and offer to pray for people in the town as part of their outreach activities four times a year.

Above the County Hall Museum, a red, white and green flag was flying. At first it appeared to be the flag of a country. I looked up red, white and green and found Hungary, which seemed unlikely. The town council’s flag policy, has that 14 December marks the anniversary of the passing of the Representation of the People Act 1918, when the suffrage flag — purple, white and green — will be flown. On looking again, the top stripe must be purple. The suffrage flag is derived from the suffragette flag.