So will the UK’s EU referendum on 23 June give rise to change? What better way to reflect on this question than whilst on my daily “commute” to work, but I use the term here in its original definition, from the Latin “commutare”- come all together/to change.
Approaching the City “square mile” on foot I feel I’m travelling through time. The historic street names give away little about their past. Cowcross street, Little Britain, King Edward Street, Postmen’s Park, St Martin’s Le Grand, Cornhill, Bread Street, Watling Street, Queen Street, Cannon Street, then finally arriving at the ACT’s offices situated at the end of King William Street.
Dig slightly under the surface though and you come to realise that the City has seen real change. Butcher, baker and candlestick maker. Without realising I’ve just walked through the knackers yards, over the tanners and pigment grinders, past the candlestick makers and catfood manufacturers, nodded toward Jaggers mythical offices with Dickensian Great Expectation, skirted around the oldest hospital in Britain- St Barts, sadly too late to see Wren’s construction of St Paul’s, but thankfully late enough to miss the smells of yesteryear.
But what of the City today? Take Cannon Street- home of the London Stone, and the CBI’s offices. For a month I’ve watched the walking habits of my fellow commuters every morning. Without fail- on either one of Cannon Street’s pavements, commuters always seem to walk on the right.
We drive on the left, but walk on the right. Just why is that?
Is this an early EU referendum sign?
Brexit perplexed? I’d recommend you read the ACT’s Brexit materials and attend the Brexit track at the ACT Annual Conference next week in Liverpool and look forward to seeing you there.
