Notre Dame.

 President Macron, has just reopened the spectacular Notre Dame, cathedral in Paris. Over five years ago there was a devastating fire, that all but destroyed the magnificent medieval cathedral. When I was in Paris recently I went to see how work was progressing and the building was enveloped in scaffolding and plastic sheets. The cathedral is the spiritual home of both Paris and France in general. Perhaps Westminster Abbey and St Paul’s cathedral play a similar role in Britain. These places of worship are part of the fabric of our now secular society. Nevertheless they are still important as they contain the collective memories of our respective countries.