Disturbing the silence

The Hatton Gallery is right at the heart of Newcastle University in the central Quadrangle. I pop in there from time to time, mostly to buy a card for a particular occasion, as I did today. I sat down to write the card (yes Steve - to you & K if you're reading!) and observed the scene in the main hall.

There were two couples, serious and measured of pose, moving from piece to piece, reading the blurb and standing back to reflect on each painting in turn. However, there were also two trios of 6th formers buzzing around taking photographs on compacts; flash flash flash, then snapping their heads back to review their shots on screen, accompanied by constant comment and chatter. But interestingly there wasn't any frustration evident in the room; everyone was simply getting on with what they were doing...