Bravery in the Chilterns

There is a lot of talk in England nowadays about the failure of ordinary people to take action when they encounter criminal or thuggish behaviour. The newspapers bemoan the way that people avoid getting involved when witnessing abusive behaviour in the street (not like the old days, they cry). Perhaps people avoid involvement because much is made of the rare times when people confront these criminals and are murdered as a result.

Well, today on my train coming home, three horrible young men got on and began swearing, threatening girls, and slamming the wall. People watched out of the corners of their eyes, pretending to be very absorbed in what they were reading or listening to so that they would not be next. The worst of the men reeked of booze and stared me down when I stood up to get off the train at my stop. Here comes the bravery bit: a middle aged woman stood up right next to him, pulled out her mobile phone and took a picture of his face. "What you taking my picture for?" he asked with a threatening sneer.
"I wanted a picture of your pretty face," she said primly.

He blocked the doors for a moment when the train stopped, and I wondered if he would take her phone or refuse to let both of us off, but he stepped aside finally. It is sometimes the people that you wouldn't expect, the unassuming ones, the middle-aged women, who will step up and do the brave thing when it needs to be done. Lady with the mobile phone, I salute you.