Well first of all there was no rain.... though jolly cold. We headed off through the market square and on down to the Oracle. A couple were in a doorway near Debenhams and we promised to grab them a cuppa....
We chatted with four security guys in Oracle who had not heard of Street Pastors so a great chance to talk about who we are, what we do and why......
Quickly into Starbucks.... after explaining that we wouldn’t do this every week we secured two cups of tea for the couple in the doorway.... so off back to find our couple before it went cold..... but they’d gone! chap busking near Country Casuals and a guy sleeping rough near the Minster were very happy to receive the drinks instead...
OK let’s talk to some door staff... The Mango staff were upbeat and happy.... the promotion girls on Gunn Street were happy to see us, and yes they could have a lolly..... All seemed pretty quiet especially as we’re talking the last weekend before the Christmas holidays...
We saw things were getting a bit heated in the doorway of supermarket.... radioed it in ...CCTV had it covered and off we left ...
...midnight so we headed back down Broad Street for a cuppa. Chatted with the police on Friar Street who tell us it’s all very quiet. Revolution only had 250 in against a capacity of over 400. Headed into St Lawrence’s as a mum and son were having an argument....
By now it was heading towards 12.45 starting to rain..... and jolly cold. Lots of good humoured people around wanting to talk, suck lollies and tell us they appreciate what we do.
We headed for Gunn Street and then into St Marys Butts. There was a feeling of tension around the fried chicken place and a couple of guys having a heated discussion. Keeping a distance again we let the police know. They moved on to be replaced by three guys having a spit in my face contest... clearly these guys had had a lot to drink so we kept back and kept an eye on them..
Outside Board Street Mall a chap was asking directions for a hotel from a lone girl..... we told where his hotel was and then persuaded her that calling for a cab would be a great idea.... she was a bit worried about the cost and then two other ladies came along also wanting to go in the same direction..... so three ladies home safely in the same cab and sharing the cost...
Looping back round Broad Street into Gun Street it was now getting very busy. Now raining hard it was very cold and people waiting for taxis were getting agitated if they didn’t get a cab straight away...
Two girls had become separated from their group who were still in the Turtle, but they’d closed so they couldn’t get in...... gave them a foil blanket as they were freezing in the rain with just strappy tops on...
The door staff on the Turtle were really busy and then the spitting trio turned up causing problems and the tension came down again. The police were on site and a few guys were taken off in a van..... our spitters were now a duo and still looking for a fight. More prayer and a bus stop of cold youngsters getting anxious. We got them singing which seemed to change the atmosphere and whilst they were all still cold and wet.... a little happier. The door man on the Turtle was very impressed. ‘Did you lot do that?’....... ‘Cool, I’ll remember that one!’
In the taxi chaos we persuaded those that could still walk to move on to Station Road to pick up a cab as there were few free cabs on Gunn Street..... lots of flip flops being handed out and a watchful eye on folks meant they were happy and wanted to chat. "No we don’t preach. Yes we do go to church..... no we don’t get paid....." it seems Street Pastors are becoming quite a part of the Friday night economy.
Back up St Marys Butts a young lady had lost her friend and was having problems hailing a cab.... we walked with her to the corner with Broad Street praying for a cab and yep one came along..... another little lady safely home.
By now it’s 3am.... time to head back. Down Friar Street we hear there’s an incident at Subway...... pop our heads in on the way back but all OK, though the door staff asked us to hang around for a second as there’s a shout from McDonalds..... all OK and we move on.
Outside Q Bar the last remnants of the night are sitting in doorways and deciding how to get home. All in good humour and wanting to chat.....next stop bed!
(Thanks Di for your commentary of the evening!)
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