I will hazard a guess that quite a few of us on the South Coast didn't give much of a thought about Hull before last year. I would also venture that many of us think differently now. From down here in Worthing, we watched something marvellous bloom on the Yorkshire coast last year and I confess to feeling a little envious.

Hull's year in the spotlight as the UK City of Culture created a vibe, for sure, not only the explosion of creativity, the amazing spectacles, the stunning revamp of the Ferens Art Gallery and the revival of the dockside as a creative hub. What struck me most powerfully was the army – for that is what they were – of the City of Culture volunteers, in their pale blue and pink T-shirts and fleeces, passionately involved in helping visitors enjoy their city and what it had to offer.