Were you wafted here from paradise?

No, Luton Airport

Technique challenge Street/Reportage and DDW's alphabet challenge U is for University town.

Rather than a shot of a single person, I wanted a series of shots that conveyed the impressions I had of my home town when I visited it this morning for breakfast. I should point out that I seldom visit as Hitchin, a quaint little market town is almost as close and much preferred.

Anyway, back to the relevance of the 3 pictures:

Top Left- The decline of the high street

The former ABC cinema which like much of the high street is closed down.

It was designed by Associated British Cinemas in-house architect William R Glen, the building opened its doors for the first time on October 17 1938 as a 1,892 seat cinema known then as The Savoy.

It was the first cinema in the area to show a 3D film in 1953 and the first in South Beds to install Cinemascope and stereophonic sound. In 1961, the venue changed its name to ABC before closing for around five months in 1971 when it was converted into a three-screen cinema. 1987 saw the cinema change its name once again - this time becoming the Canon cinema - before changing back to the ABC in 1996. But 1998 saw the opening of a rival ultra-modern multiplex cinema in the nearby Galaxy Centre and it was just two years before ABC bosses decided enough was enough and the venue screened its last film on November 23 2000.

Top right - Here to stay or passing through?

As a former industrial town, Luton attracts imigrants from all parts of the world. as a university town, it attracts students from all over the world, and finally, having an international airport, it attracts visitors from all over the world, most of them probably just passing through. So, seeing someone walking through the town with a large rucksack or suitcase, you never know if they are just passing through or here to stay.

Bottom - Could be cleaner

This is me sitting outside the Red Lion Hotel at 08:45 this morning waiting for it to open up. You can see that the pavement is covered in discarded chewing gum. The council invest a lot of money in making the town centre attractive and pedestrian friendly but it must feel like an uphill battle when the residents don't treat it with respect. Together with the abandoned shops on the high street, it doesn't create a good image.