The King came to Battersea on Thursday.
The KING. And I met him.
He was gracious and polite and I could not fault his manner at all. He wanted to talk to everyone and everyone wanted to speak to him, take a photo with him or be around him. Truly a celebrity.
But what I reflected on later was that Wandsworth has probably never had the make up of the welcoming lineup of people in power.
A Black female Deputy Left-tenant of England, followed by a Asian Muslim female Mayor, followed by a Black female Deputy Leader of the council, followed by a Black female MP, followed by the Malaysian chairman of the Battersea Power Station and the Irish CEO of Battersea Power Station.
When the Windrush era boat docked in Tilsbury and the peers of my grand-ancestors travelled to Battersea to set up home.
I imagine there were still those unwelcoming signs 'No Black, No Irish...' in the windows, curtains being twitched, doors being closed and glass ceilings firmly intact.
How times have changed.
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