I spent last weekend in Dunstable meeting up in the company of some old friends and workmates. Around 20 years ago, I lived on the outskirts of the Bedfordshire town with the affluence of Buckinghamshire to the west and the effluence of Luton to the east (only kidding Lutonians, its great really!).

I lived there during a nine year stint when I worked in London as a computer operator, in the late 1980’s and early 1990’s. My memories of it are as a pleasant town with a scattering of decent pubs, shops, restaurants and an old bloke called Harold.

It seemed strange being back in the town after such a long time. A couple of the lads I met up with have been friends since I was a 20 year old, a bond forged while colleagues and friends in both Gateshead and London.

One of them, Bill is one of the nicest blokes…