I made a lady cry.

The picture above – of the hundreds of people who gathered in Abbey Courtyard in support of the Ukraine and peace – was taken on my iPhone by a tourist inside the Roman Baths.

I had shouted up to her. Waving my phone and asking if she would kindly get a shot of the peaceful protestors she could see gathered below from her highpoint on the verandah surrounding the Great Bath.

I had waved my Discovery Card at the main entrance – and asked if l could just pop in for a quick shot – but l was met with a ‘job’s worth’ rebuttal – a man telling me all time slots were taken and did l know the city had a marketing office. Let’s not go there.

So instead, l chanced my luck with a visitor to our city. A kind lady who leaned over the balustrade and handed my phone back to me. l thanked her for her kindness in helping me illustrate the gathering. ‘I am Polish’ she said. I told her that made her taking the shot even more special. I think at that point l had made her cry.

I am proud of my fellow Bathonians who turned out in large numbers this morning – with family and friends. The event was to show support for Ukraine and condemn Putin’s actions – without discriminating against the Russian people.

One of the speakers was Bath’s MP, Wera Hobhouse who l spoke to on her way into the Abbey Courtyard. Why did she think such a show of solidarity in the city was of value.