Bradford

Bradford, Yorkshire, England, off the coast of Europe, that is:

Bradford was the Silicon Valley of its time about 150 years ago, one of the richest places in the world, at the heart of the Industrial Revolution. Today, it is backwater and one of the most deprived places in the UK and going from bad to worse.

When you drive into Bradford from one of the two main roads that link it to the motorway network, the first three big signs you see as you drive into the city are 'Hollywood Bowl', 'Frankie and Benny's' and 'Santander'. There is no 'Welcome to Bradford' sign, not that I can see, anyway.

Where are we again? The Midwest? Spain?

Bradford has a huge hole in the middle of the city that looks like a bomb site as if the Luftwaffe had recently passed by.

There are more signs in Bradford with Santander written on them than signs telling us we are in Bradford. You would be forgiven for thinking Bradford had changed its name.

And indeed it has. Bradford and Bingley Building Society, once a national institution, is now called Santander. Santander is a place in northern Spain. Spain has just won the World Cup. Bradford and Bingley is now Santander, so at least we have something to celebrate. Viva Espana!