I saw a tweet recently commenting on what an incredible mess Trafalgar Square has become. I thought of this comment this evening as I looked down from the steps of the National Gallery on what is nowadays being used far too often as privatised performance space, not as one of the great, democratic open squares of central London where, as Sean Scully reminded me shortly afterwards, he was able to come as a young Irish child living in Highbury to feed the pigeons and absorb the lessons of British history:-
I remember feeding the pigeons when I first came to London on a visit when I was thirteen and filling a little bottle with water from one of the fountains – to take home with me – and being so thrilled by Nelson on his column. It certainly looks very different now.
I think yours was a common experience – it was like an initiation to London for children. Charles