The Manor House reunion served several purposes. First, it was a chance for old undergraduate friends to meet up again. Second, it gave the fire service an opportunity to stage a reconstruction of the recent arson attack. Third, senior female staff boasted that it was an excellent piece of public engagement work.

Although I was pleased to see my friends again, particularly M and AP, and GW, I found it distressing to witness my hall of residence go up in flames. It was also rather odd that other Birmingham University graduates were also invited along, such as the couple who fell in love at Euston station, and a woman who showed off her baby bump, bursting with pride that she would become a new mother at the age of 52.

Afterwards I gazed north towards the magnificent futuristic buildings of the University of Manchester, and wondered whether I would have time to call in on my nephew on the way home.