‘I’m sure you’re all wondering what will happen to the fund once we pass the anniversary,’ Claudia said, after swapping places with Hilary. ‘And it’s a question that has been discussed ad nauseam with my fellow trustees and within the working party. We did consider commissioning a monument, and that might be something the people of Sedgefield want in the future, but personally, I don’t feel now is the time for splashing out on a slab of stone or a tonne of twisted metal. We might be a year on, but there are those who continue to struggle. With that in mind, we’ve agreed that our next priority will be the establishment of a hardship fund to provide financial relief and mental health support to survivors and families of the bereaved.’

A hand went up. ‘Isn’t that a duplication of effort? I understand the victims have been offered counselling already,’ said a TV reporter.

‘You’re right,’ said Claudia. ‘And there has been some financial support too, but from the messages I’ve received to date, it’s not enough. It’s never enough. If it took two years to restore the theatre, the least we can do is invest the same amount of time, if not more, repairing the damage the fire has caused to people’s lives.’

Another hand shot up. ‘Since you’re taking questions,’ said a journalist from one of the tabloids. ‘I note from the programme that you’re not intending to give a speech on the night. Why is that?’

‘I will be onstage at various points, but I would prefer to leave the speeches to the likes of the mayor. Now back to—’

‘And let him take the credit?’ the journo asked.

‘The running order is tight, and we’ve promised the council we’ll be finished by ten thirty,’ she tried. ‘I’m sure Sedgefield can do without me droning on.’

‘Rubbish,’ Bryony called out from the front row. ‘People will want to hear from you.’

Claudia pursed her lips. ‘We’ll have to see,’ she promised.

‘What are your plans for meeting up with Amelia Parker?’ someone shouted, talking over another question that was being fired at Claudia. Her inexperience at dealing with the press was beginning to show.

‘I’m sorry, I’ve said I wouldn’t take ques—’

‘Have you spoken to her yet?’ another voice called out.

‘No, I … I’ve written a letter to her. That’s all I intend to say. Sorry, thank you,’ Claudia said, before quickly stepping away from the microphone.

Yvonne took her place and offered to take any further questions, but the press were out of their seats and swarming around Claudia. In a week where the papers would be full of memoriam pieces, editors were looking for an upbeat story to add a touch of light. Mal had done the same.

‘I’m going to get closer, see how she handles it,’ Frankie said.