I woke up on the morning of February 18th, 1998, to find that our street in Kemp Town, Brighton ,was completely empty of cars.

Normally, College Road, which leads up directly towards Brighton College, and has double yellow lines on both sides is gridlocked with parked cars.

However, standing outside No 3 College Road, next door to our own house, was a policeman.

‘What on earth is happening ‘, I asked him.

‘Well, it’s all rather hush-hush’, he replied, but Prince Charles is coming here this afternoon’.

‘Why’, I asked, incredulously.

‘To open this home for the homeless. They’ve spent £3 million doing it up’

I had noticed work being done next door, but had no idea what was planned for this particular residence.