Crossing That Bridge When We Come To It

As I said at the time of Forth Bridge, London Bridge will be an event of an entirely different order. No matter what you think of the monarchy, the departure of HM the Queen will mark a significant shift in our mental landscape, and arguably not just within this country. Things will suddenly feel different - though I suspect not very different, for the vast majority of people for whom the Queen is a warmly-regarded figure but not one who makes that much impact. Of course we know that London Bridge is approaching, as is the demise of all of us: an inevitable event, unlike the Major Disaster Plan I have in a file somewhere, that deals with something which might not happen at all. Yet it was still strangely disconcerting to get a call from the Council today to discuss how Swanvale Halt church might take part, hosting a book of remembrance, prayers on the day before the funeral, and being open for people to come in to pray and reflect. All this is fine with me: we're discussing the Chairman of the Board, after all. You might prudently think about arrangements for your own death, but it seems very odd to be discussing the death of someone you don't know and how you're going to react to it, not even emotionally but practically.

It was even odder when mere moments later I received an email from a different Council employee about how the town is going to be celebrating the Platinum Jubilee in June, namely with the lighting of a lantern at a suitable spot which I will be blessing, and 'a bit of a procession'. Presumably we all think HMQ can make it that far.

Isn't London Bridge a crushingly dull looking thing?