Late Night Listeners Report, Saturday June 22
The signs of the potential start of the Summer were very favourable as our team of five plus one (a long story) made the life-changing decision of choosing to wear just our lightweight, Day-Glo... er, I mean.. Hi Viz tabards.
As we made our way to our regular set up point, the active busy nightlife we stepped into would prove to be the cultural representation of the night. A couple of our regular homeless guys were around and at some point came and had tea and multiple biscuits and the odd pair of flip flops were dispensed (not to the homeless guys!)
We seemed to have more than our regular amount of inquisitive people stopping by to ask the now almost familiar question of '"What's this all about, then?".
It's always a good feeling to be able to tell them that we are a mainly faith-based group coming from a variety of denominations from churches in and around the City with the one objective of serving and helping our local community via the night time economy.
Speaking of faith, it turned out to be a bit of a theme as we had a young lady who attended a church in Walsall who was a bit overcome by what we were doing and insisted on praying with and for a couple of our team, there and then! (to be honest, she had had a bit to drink so was quite wordy in her praying) garnering some interesting comments from those around.
Whilst this was going on, a man, who had also had a few, was at our table having a coffee and was clearly out this evening to 'eye up' and to chat up the ladies. He told us he was a farmer from Burntwood and regaled us with some of the things he undertook in that role.
Later another young couple came over and the man began to tell us that he was brought up in the Christian faith and that his mum went to a church one of our team attended. It was refreshing to hear a young person's views on the relevance and significance of having a faith.
It was also the night of an almost 'Blood Moon'... resulting in the, now normal activity, of people taking photos on their phones!
The City seemed to be a busy one for almost all of our shift...and as it drew to a close for us, the glorious Bobby turned up with a big box of chips for sharing. He also told us that on the Saturday nights we are not out, he gets people asking where we are....it's so humbling for us to be acknowledged for our presence.
Subject: Report for Late Night Listeners 27.07.2024
It was one of the mildest of Summer nights so far that called for hi-viz tabards instead of the big coats. Unfortunately, due to some miscommunication on my part, we were one team member down (with them being part of a Choir on tour and in Germany this particular evening!). So we were a tad limited on being able to send pairs out walking around the centre of the City, which was probably just as well as the emptying out of Beacon Park that had played host to a Festival of Tribute Bands meant a heck of lot of people passing through the town (fold up chairs in hands). For the majority of the people coming home, it was a nice friendly, and good humoured vibe.
We did have a lovely younger couple stop by our table and 'raved' a little about what we all did. As they stood there chatting, having just purchased some pizza etc, another guy in customary festival bucket hat came over asking why they had not bought him any food. We all thought this was someone they knew as they both engaged in conversation with him. As it turned out he was a complete stranger and his clear drunken demeanour turned to one of underlying menace as he accused them of being 'robbers' and stealing his wallet. Things moved up a gear or two in its intensity until a friend of the guy in the bucket hat came over and forcibly wrested him away to come and sit with him on the bench opposite. This he did whilst continued to jibe and antagonise the couple with gestures and comments...thankfully our nice couple were doing their best to ignore him, though the young man was quite prepared to have it 'out with him' but was tempered by his partner not to rise to the bait... such a shame drink can bring out the worst in people even after a nice evening out.
We did however have another rather genial young man who lived in the Isle of Man (I know, a long way to Lichfield for a party...right?). It turned out that his friend, a Lichfield citizen, had turned 30 and it was big party time. As he asked questions as to who we were and what we were doing he went on to explain that his mum was a Reverend in a church on the IoM and she was often coercing him to help out with the local food bank. Him being a 'confirmed atheist', he had had to come to a compromise with his mum, that he helped out as long as she did not try to constantly get him to come to church on a Sunday!!
We watched as the 'gentle giant' that is Bobby the Bouncer for the Millennium Chicken fast food place physically but firmly forced a rather large and very drunk man out of the shop sound tracked with a tirade of verbal abuse to someone still inside the shop. This big guy went on to a kebab shop over the road and we later heard a similar situation going on with the security staff there! How sad!
The City was super busy due to the Festival fall-out and that fall-out featured all ages and even families who ended up milling around the City centre well into Midnight. As an observation, we did observe a lack of police around, though they may have been situated in and around the Park for all we knew.
Chips came and were quickly digested as we came to the time to pack down.
Lichfield you were wonderful, thank you and goodnight!
Subject: Late Night Listeners report 10.08.24
Our lovely team assembled at Wade Street Church to haul out our equipment for the night. We loaded up the leader's car with the usual supplies and refreshments after a moment of prayer.
Glorious Lichfield was warm and busy, with the streets full of nice, friendly Lichfeldians and people from beyond. We knew we were going to have a steady stream of passers by tonight.
Unfortunately we were unable to set up camp at our usual pitch, the County Council having barriered the two large sycamore trees, due to root uplift. It may be a while before we get back there. However we found a suitable pitch in full view of the public, between Betsy's and Millennium chicken. We were back lit and ready for anything.
There was a Police carrier parked close to Walkabout, containing three jolly Police Officers. We introduced ourselves and they were very pleased to see us. There were also two Response patrols in the City throughout the time we were there. Officers are on twelve hour shifts, due to the riots and civil unrest.
We set off in pairs at regular intervals, all reporting that all pubs and bars were very busy. The only location that was oozing unrest was Walkabout. Every hostelry had door staff on duty.
We had a stream of people thanking us for what we do, some partaking in refreshments.
Just after 1100 hrs there were more drunken people around, with the fast food restaurants booming and the reliable taxi rank transporting people away.
It kicked off at Walkabout with the door staff fighting with a couple of aggressive customers.The situation calmed after a heavy Police presence.
We all noticed one or two men comatose through drink. The Police were excellent in the way they helped them.
A man attending a wedding at the Guildhall, brought us a box of excess lemon drizzle cake, which proved very popular with people stopping to chat.
At about 23.50, a couple of us witnessed a large fight outside Walkabout, which had started inside.The Police were at the scene, and as the Police do, waded in and quickly de-escalated the situation, which was very timely.
One has to commend the Police for protecting us all and carrying out their duties, fairly but firmly.
We suspect the Police will be looking at Walkabout's licence, if incidents like tonight become too regular.
We didn't have to issue any flip flops as the City passed by. All in all, most people were in fine fettle.
Hot chips arrived at midnight, thankyou Bobby and Millenium Chicken.
The team were engaging with people all night, and we knew that LNL on the streets was providing a vital service.
At 0100 hrs we packed up as the City was slowly emptying.
REPORT FOR LATE NIGHT LISTENERS 31/9/24
Tabards or Jackets? It's that time of the year when this becomes a significant question with regards to 'work' apparel. To be sure some of our 'infamous five' brought both - just in case!
Setting up was in our new chosen space, just forward of the Dessert shop between the two trees. This is proving quite novel (even revelationary) for the teams as we now have members of the public walking both behind and in front of our table.
There seemed to be a great spirit of generosity in the air this night with people giving us significant donations just to say thanks for what we all do as volunteers for the community. There were lots of encouraging conversations and engagements with people throughout the night.
We did a couple of flip flop encounters, which always draws overflowing praise and thanks from some very relieved ladies. We did our usual pat-strolls around the City square just to keep an eye on what else is going on at the various venues, keeping an eye out for folks in need or difficulties, keeping up 'speaking terms' relationships with door/security staff and answering the odd question or two. A young lady came across to our table to inform us that a homeless person she had got into conversation with had told her all he wanted was a place to stay and she wanted to know what we could do to help him. As it turned out we knew the homeless person in question and could inform the lady that (to our knowledge) they had been offered accommodation before but had not committed to stay in it. It is always a difficult issue that in many cases does not necessarily conclude with the person being house as the issues around their individual situations are often more complex .
Labour MP Dave Robertson stopped by to introduce himself and thank us for what we are doing. A brief chat with him resulted in him directing us to funding we could apply for (we need to cover the hire of radio/walkie talkie that puts us on the Night Time communication system that links us to other venues etc as well as pay for Public Liability Insurance).
As the end of our shift approached, Bobby, possibly the greatest security person in all Lichfield, turned up with a box of piping hot chips (why do they taste so wonderful at 1am in the morning?)...From then on it was pack-down and time to head back to base and eventually home and bed.
P.S. On the Thursday before LNL had been part of the Lichfield Community Day with a table in the Market Square where we had a number of folk interested in potentially being part of our volunteer group as well as us getting a photo taken with Staffordshire's own Olympic Gold Medalist, Sophie Capewell.
Subject: LNL report Sat 28th Sept 2024
Tonight's five person team had a quick update chat before leaving base camp for the 'wild' streets of ye olde City of Lichfield. There was much to update folk on, new volunteers coming on board, successful funding applications with Lichfield City Council and Staffordshire Community Foundation as well as Tesco's Community Champion, Charlotte securing us Tea, Coffee, biscuits, Hot Chocolate and more as a Tesco and LNL partnership is formed.
Anyways, it was time to head out and set up our table in a night time environment that was seemingly, a busy one! Two ladies sort of snuck up on us, one of them saying she was cold and picking up one of the team members hiviz jacket she put it put on (said team member had just gone to visit the loo in the Brewhouse and Kitchen). This young lady seemed to want to make up for her cheekiness by inviting us all to share her pizza (very nice) but told us it was a Margarita which actually turned out to be something spicy with slices of Jalapeno chillies on top (not nice!!). Her friend spent most of the time giggling and taking endless videos of her friend on her phone. We ended up with them discovering we had flip flops - and they both had high heels on so a transaction occurred and they eventually headed for the taxi rank relishing their ability to walk in flatties and no longer needing to totter on their heels.
A young man came to buy a coffee off us and was temporarily confused when we would have money off him...then he told us he thought we were some kind of mobile coffee shop! (which in some way, I suppose we are). A group of youngers came by and, realizing that all the tea and biscuits were free, proceeded to all have one and help themselves to biscuits, but they were so polite - despite one of them holding on tight to a small Vodka bottle - that we were somewhat charmed by their manners.
One of our team got asked by a rather drink-fuelled man if we were all 'into God 'n stuff'...this resulted in a conversation about spirituality, karma, church and his personal declaration of trying to be a good person. His, much less drink-fuelled, friend came over after a while and joined in the conversation in a very respectful manner. As a rule we generally endeavour not to get too drawn into conversations around religion with those who may have had a few too many.
A very friendly chap by the name of Adrian came by and stayed sometime at the table chatting about all sorts of things but especially displaying his knowledge of blues music and artists. He seemed a bit of a loner and was only too happy to chat to any of us who would listen and engage with him... and that is what we are about to be fair. There was a regular presence of Police throughout the night and even a couple on foot at one point.
Security man, Bobby sensed it was time for some chips and they duly arrived, piping hot and eagerly devoured by the team as we made moves to pack down and head back for home.
Subject: Late Night Listeners Report Saturday, 12th October 2024
The five of us gathered at Wade Street to be greeted with a very tidy storage cupboard. This made it a lot easier to find what we needed and organise ourselves, well done David WM!
We set up in a slightly different place due to safety barriers around the Plane trees. Fortunately it didn't rain as there was little cover in this location, but it did get colder as the evening progressed.
There was a distinct smell of a certain 'herbal' plant in the area originating from young lads on bikes. It makes one wonder if their parents know what they are doing or even care. The night brought a steady stream of visitors to the table and we were able to take turns walking the streets. Overall the night was reasonably busy with a lot of people seeming to be the worse for wear, unable to walk straight and verbally very loud for the most part, but surprisingly no flip flops were given out. We were able to take coffee and biscuits to one of our homeless friends who was being looked after by a small group of lads. Nice to see this community compassion.
Every now and then a police car would drive past to remind us they were not too far away.They did, however miss the one incident which left us all shocked.
It was an assault involving two females, one of which had driven into town to collect a group of drunk men. The driver of the car got out and pushed a nearby lady onto the ground. There were a lot of witnesses and the unfortunate victim was hastily escorted to a taxi. Thankfully this is one of the rare occasions when acts of aggression occur in the City nightlife. On lighter note one of our number went offering biscuits to the taxi drivers.
After our usual present of hot chips from Security Legend, Bobby we packed up a little after 1am and headed back to base.