December 2025 

Re: Generosity and caution

Thank you Helen for your reflections. I must admit, when I first heard of this event I was concerned. I even managed to get to London to join the event at St Martin's in the Fields earlier in the day (on my way to Tate Britain for their Turner and Constable exhibition). On the way back I passed the end of Tommy's rally - certainly what I briefly saw was a well attended outdoor carol sing along. Yes, I would guess about 1000, and more flags than would normally be expected - but well behaved and quite friendly.

Quite where Tommy Robinson will go next we will have to wait and see. But this event - it may not have done a great deal to put Christ back in Christmas (I would claim he had never left), but it certainly did not damage his greeting.

The Revd Dr Peter Baines