Revisits

 A week ago or so, I'd been asked to go to a community venue to talk about partnership working. Their base is in a little-know station about half-way between Seaford and Newhaven.  It's a beautiful Art Deco number, a little down on its luck but gradually being revived by a lovely group of folk.

My favourite bus route does go close but requires a daft detour around bits of Seaford or a change at Seaford for a more local bus.  In the event I decided it would be much more fun to arrive at a station-based community space by train.

I had a really good meeting with the good folk there and then it was an easy matter to say "there's a train in 3 minutes", make my goodbyes and hop on down to the platform.

BBB and I had arranged to liaise at Steamworks (natch).  He was on his way by the time I got on my train so it was an easy matter to get off at the end of the line, 10 steps into Steamworks, order a pint of APA and grab a seat.

Once again the beer was in excellent nick so I thought nothing of popping to get the boy a pint of it when I realised his bus was nearby.

A couple of hours of relaxed nattering over more good beer ensued.  Then we headed for the bus, just making it in time - this provided me with a short aerobic work out, double stepping it up the slight incline to the stop.

Obviously, Beerarama and the Crown have been visited - definitely the best two venues in town.  Then yesterday we were down at the Wish Tower.  I'd had a bit of a day on Friday starting to sort out a problem with our base for work (where "problem" = car impact) so I was a bit frayed.  I stopped off there to put notices on the door (most of our clients arrive on foot and are generally not contactable) and then headed to the Tower.

I saw a load of police and a "what now???" thought passed through my head but as I neared the end of a side road I saw there was a parade and the police were just doing escorty/keeping order kinda role.  Then I noticed the garb - was that really an Orange sash?  Yes, it really was.

I have to say I was stunned - and really disappointed.  I'm not sure this Brexity, somewhat anti-migrant town of ours (about 100k people) really needs yet another divisive group.

A little reading, just to check I wasn't misunderstanding, informed me that it's related to the local culture of "Bonfire societies" and that coming out of the Lewes martyrs.

Once again I'm reminded that some of the "traditions" whilst might appear just to be a bit of local fun really have their roots in some nasty undertones.  I'm not sure there should be any place for it - but I know that there's nothing I can do, other than not take part.

Still, it left me really shaken (probably related to being tired and a bit fraught) that this still exists and I find myself wondering, in a town with so many high churches, with their bells and smells - does it even make sense?  Or is it just a bunch of people who are big into tribalism?