Barber's shop chat shows it's Derby day - but people's race is missing people

It has come later than we would have liked but at long last this historic day has dawned. Hairdressing salons have finally reopened.

In a further bit of welcome news it's Derby day, which the nation tends not to rejoice about as much as it did when Lester was in his pomp. Indeed, a major challenge for the Epsom racecourse team in recent years has been to encourage more rejoicing from those living in and around Epsom. Ironically, just as progress was being made in the community engagement battle, the community has been implored to remain at home.

Yet in the Ashtead Village branch of Elio's barber's shop, a couple of miles from the most important winning post in the horseracing world, there is no doubting this is Derby day. There is even a link to the great race, for on the wall is a painting of the beaten 1976 11-10 favourite Wollow, whose jockey, Gianfranco Dettori, personally signed it with his best wishes to Elio.