Guarding the Books at the Ref …….

Now as far back as I can remember the Ref has always had security.

Back in the late 1960s and into the 70s there was a chap at the entrance who politely asked to look into your bag as you left.

And a few years ago, I encountered one who firmly and perhaps not so politely told me I couldn’t take pictures.

The book search I didn’t mind, but to this day I can’t work out why I couldn’t take a picture with my grown-up camera when all around me people were taking selfies with the mobiles.

Still the chap with the long black “security” coat was doing the biz, even down to the thing in his ear, his calm statue like posture and hands in front of him.

Perhaps all just a practice tun for the forthcoming Tory Party Conference which will be here from October 1st till October 4th.

So was he an out rider for the security which will stalk the area in the first week of October or really guarding the books.

That said there was a police presence checking all the cable holes in the ground.

Location; St Peter’s Square

Picture; Guarding the Books at the Ref, 2023, from the collection of Andrew Simpson