THE KING’S CROSS BOMBING
Today Emma took a 6th Form Art group up to London by train. The intention was to visit the Sir John Soane museum in Lincoln’s Inn Fields. She had been asked by the museum to get there for a guided tour by 10.00 AM, but, knowing that few of the 6th Formers would manage to rise by 7.30, she asked for a rendezvous for an hour later & they took the 9.30 train.
Had she been less realistic concerning the 6th Formers’ capacities early in the morning, the party would have taken the earlier train to King’s Cross station. Had they done so they would also have taken the London Underground train to Russell Square that was bombed, resulting in 22 deaths.
As it turned out, the later train from Letchworth to King’s Cross was halted at Potter’s Bar &, after a series of confused announcements, the passengers were asked to disembark& return to their stations of departure. The students pieced together the shocking news via mobile ‘phone calls home.
We’re both feeling a bit shaky tonight. Although one always identifies with those who suffer in these horrific events, this providential close shave has brought the sickening, barbaric violence that is so immanent a part of our lives now into the sharpest of perspectives. May those who made different decisions today rest in peace.
10:55:54 PM 
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