Jim, your experiences of racism over the years are truly shocking. And I admire you for not going along with any of it, when all around were being so offensive. Are you however saying that we as a nation haven't changed at all, and haven't learned to be more tolerant and kind? I've never been to Manchester, visited Liverpool only briefly and knew London well but only as a child, so I can't comment on racial attitudes there nowadays. But as a white woman with a black husband, I can say that people here in Norfolk have responded to him with amazing friendliness, completely genuine as far as I can judge. My (rather cynical) sister says it's over-compensation for fear of being labelled a racist. One can only speak as one finds, and Ibrahima is delighted with 'les anglais'. He was even invited to dance with Leicester Morris at the Potty Festival in Sheringham, and also with Red Leicester at the Straw Bear in Whittlesea in 2009. All the onlookers applauded and came up to hug him afterwards. I don't see this as patronising, just expressing delight that he joined in, wearing his African costume. Perhaps big cities are different. But I'm proud of Norfolk. For a rural area with little experience of black people and a reputation for being insular, they've exceeded all expectations and I love them for it.