I popped into the community centre this evening to pick up some paperwork I needed for the grant application. While I was there I met the new Premises Officer, who was there getting the place ready for a wedding reception in one of the halls. I also saw a chap I recognised there and went to make friendly conversation with him. He was helping with a party organised for the Diego Garcians in Crawley.

The story of the Diego Garcians is a long and unhappy one. Basically they were all turfed off their island to make way for a military base way back, but always hoped to return. When that looked unlikely to happen a lot of them came to the UK (as they are UK citizens) to take up residence and continue protesting to get their island back. Quite a few arrived and declared themselves homeless, and as some arrived at Gatwick airport the responsibility for housing them fell on Sussex, being the area of the port of arrival. I think there are about 100 families in Crawley and the first to arrive have now been here a year. The party has all the Diego Garcians and friends they have made since arriving. Should be interesting as they are reputed to have a very flexible attitude to time – I doubt they will all turn up at the start of the party. With any luck the organisers have a wristwatch, because we do like the hall to be shut up before midnight!