When I arrived on Waterloo Bridge over the Easter Weekend to provide support to the
important Extinction Rebellion cause I had an immediate sense of deja vu. It took me a few
moments to make the connection. Then I realised I was being transported back to my times
as a ‘saucepan lid’ (kid) on the London street markets. The vibrancy, spontaneity and
community values were all there just like I remember (and I remember Dad talking about
reflecting on his childhood memories).
Just like the old street markets there was also some disruption caused to traffic, and rightly
so given our responsibility to the next generation in getting a momentum going to change
our course at this crucial time in history. Whilst on the bridge I had some great banter with
young and old, including the lovely Coppers. When I was interviewed for a film crew I took
the opportunity to refer to some immortal words of Winston Churchill (from a 1936 speech
in Parliament) which seem to fit with where we are with the current biodiversity and climate
crises -
“The era of procrastination, of half-measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays
is coming to its close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.”
I was also given the mic on the bridge for a short while. I had enough time to explain to the
crowd how the traditional Costermongers’ values matched theirs. However sadly I wasn’t
allowed enough time to lead a chorus of some traditional old time songs.
