While on a quest for books, I was diverted by a sign outside Hove Town Hall for a local Get Involved day.

Inside, I went from stall to stall. I then chanced upon something named the Civic Awareness Commission.

This has been recently set up and its task is to retrieve pictures and objects from Brighton and Hove City Council’s considerable stores in Kemp Town and Newhaven. These can then be displayed in various locations.

This commission might even galvanise that much-needed larger, dedicated art gallery in Brighton and Hove. And dare one hope it might arouse the library service to have more books on display?

At another stall I became the owner of a free council yo-yo. However, this refuses to go up and down.

Cynics might say that is indeed a metaphor for local government.

Christopher Hawtree
Westbourne Gardens, Hove