I realise this is a question, and nod rapidly. The other men nod back, more than a few cross their arms in front of their chest, revealing a tattooed hammer on each forearm. Alan pats me on the back.

‘Anyway, the National Committee are pretty happy with the groundswell at the moment, and how that’s continued for the last year or so,’ Carl continues. ‘We’ve kept the momentum going locally, even in the smaller backwaters, like here, where there’s no centre to base a movement around. I know a lot of us are part of various football lads’ groups, but we’ve kept our end up without the traditional pull of a big team. So firstly, from them, well done. We’ll carry on with the leafletting we’ve been doing, keep talking to the same groups, and keep up the agitations at the weekends.’ There’s a small cheer at this. ‘But Barney…?’

A huge man with a shaved head looks up, ‘Yes Carl?’

‘Remember to keep it PG before the watershed OK? There were kids in that pub last Friday. It’s not good that their safety ends up dominating the press on the issue.’

‘Right you are, Boss.’

‘Good work on the choice of target though – sounds like those three … gentlemen … won’t be coming through again, on business or pleasure.’

‘My business, my pleasure,’ smiles the man called Barney. There’s a low cheer, and a smattering of applause.

Carl holds the attention of the room in the same way that good teachers keep control of their classes at school. After every few things that he says, he makes a joke or a comment about someone in front of him. The result is a funny kind of glow that goes from person to person around the damp-smelling room, almost like Carl is a kind of lighthouse, casting light on each person in turn. It’s warm in the light, and you listen very hard to what’s being said, because you think that will make the light fall on you again. It reminds me, for some reason, of the Thursday evenings in Mr Walters’ classroom.

So I listen very hard to talk about national actions: a march that took place in London last weekend – peaceful, unfortunately, but with good opportunities to network with other groups; an online campaign to encourage younger members to get out from behind their computers and be more active – Alan and Vince get some light for that one; and finally the news that the White Lions’ plan has been given the go ahead by the national committee. ‘Martin thinks it’s good. Sketchy around the edges, but the core is pure gold, he said. And you know what that means.’

Again, cheering. Everyone seems to know who Martin is, except me.