Page 137 - 368603 LP250721 AWY AWY AWY Book (238pp A5)

could see the steeple of St Anne’s Church over the road on my right and I crossed and went in a Harvester pub; any port in a storm. A swift Strongbow later I was feeling ready to roll so I headed out and turned immediately right into Church Road. It was a very pleasant leafy road and was comprised of semi-detached, terrace-style brick houses and as I walked along a couple of young women all dressed in black and obviously heading for the same place as me got out of a car and smiled when they spotted my rosette. I could see some cameramen waiting outside the church as I got nearer as well as a guy about the same age as me, fifty-three, wearing a Sunderland shirt; we exchanged an, “All right, mate” as I passed and sought a spot in the forecourt.
A bloke came over and asked if I’d come down from Sunderland and we chatted a little – he was from Derby but was affiliated to a Sunderland woman. Then the vicar came across to greet everyone. He was a jovial guy with a Yorkshire accent and he said to me, “If any Chelsea fans turn up, don’t start any punch-ups...but I suppose they’ve got other things to think about today.” Chelsea F.C and Jose Mourinho had parted company earlier in the day.
I’d spotted Niall as soon as I arrived and as I got my bearings and studied those around him, various faces emerged from the past. Older readers will know exactly what I mean but for you younger folks there will come a time when you ring the doorbell of someone you haven’t seen for a long time and when they answer it, they won’t know who
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