Surgery at Muswell Hill Library. One of those scary experiences you have from time to time if you are in public service. As I arrived at the library, the librarian tells me that there is already someone in my room waiting. As I go in, I see he is booting up his laptop obviously to show me something.

Without going into details, it is very clear very soon that this person is suffering from a severe mental disorder. Over the years I have dealt with a great many people, some of whom are indeed strange and some of whom have been driven mad by Haringey Council. However, this was different and severe. I placed myself between him and the door and listened.

As it went on, I was wondering what to do next. So I excused myself for a moment and went out to the library and told the librarian what was going on and to keep an eye out for me. She, very sensibly, came to the door and told me (and him) that there were two other people waiting and that she had to close at 7pm. He said fine and packed up his laptop and went.

I made enquiries through the Chief Exec’s office the next day – and he was well known to them (as is often the case).