THAT’S the last time I go to York,” declared man of Middlesex Jeff as he returned to complete painting my door and window frames. “Charging 15 quid to go into the Minster – it’s daylight robbery!”

Naturally I defended those who look after my county’s most treasured place of worship while silently agreeing that the charge seemed a bit steep. After all it is a place of worship first and foremost.

Claims on its website that it costs £20,000 a day to maintain what is the largest church north of the Alps also sounds over the top, but who am I to doubt the word of ordained clerics?

What about our own cathedral that uniquely doubles as a college chapel for Christ Church? On Wednesday adult charges were expected to rise by £1 to £9, with children, students and pensioners having to fork out £8 – a rise of about 39 per cent. If size matters, compared with York this looks pricey.

“But you get the Alice in Wonderland and Harry Potter interests thrown in for that,” defended former college worker Colin when we met in our favourite Covered Market cafe on Tuesday.

“Perhaps, but it’s still charging to visit God’s house,” said retired schoolteacher Ken, showing a side I’d never before noticed. He usually bats for the agnostics.

It was David Stevens, churchwarden of New Road Baptist Church in Bonn Square who later put everything into perspective. His is the oldest nonconformist church in the city and there is no compulsory charge on visitors.

“There’s tea, coffee and biscuits served free – and you’re likely to get our minister Kat Bracewell doing the honours.”

SPEAKING of Alice in Wonderland, the 150th anniversary of Lewis Carroll’s enchanting story is in full swing and I for one can’t wait to see the 150 Alice characters on parade tomorrow.

Story Museum marketing and communications manager David Gibb said the places are open to both sexes with no restrictions (apart from what decency demands, I expect) on the style of dress. Italian, Japanese and Australian ‘Alices’ are already on their way.

A celebratory cake, a photo call in Christ Church (where else?) and parades are all planned. This old softie is cutting short his birthday celebrations to be there.

THEY shouldn’t have to wear gowns and all that paraphernalia just to take exams,” said a well-meaning grandma as she watched a few students wander sweatingly from the High Street Examination Schools. “Why can’t they just wear ordinary clothes?”

“This is Oxford – not some one-time polytechnic from the Black Country or beyond,” replied her son-in-law, an Exeter man to his fingertips and proud of it.