THE huge success of yesterday’s ABP Southampton Half Marathon begs the question: why the city has had to wait for so long?

While taking nothing from the organisers and acknowledging the financial support of Associated British Ports, as well as the backing of the City Council, the positive reaction to this event serves to highlight just how willing the people of Southampton are to embrace such projects.

Indeed, the successful return of music concerts to the Common – Common People will take place next month – and the clamour for other festivals and events, shows how misguided the city fathers may have been allowing popular mass events to fade and slip away.

Today’s Daily Echo also brings news that the Round the World Clipper Race will once again start from London and not Southampton.

The city did not bid for the race, even though its “home” is here in Hampshire.

Cost is cited as the reason, and it cannot be denied these are cash-strapped times.

Yet Sunday’s half marathon shows that the people need circuses just as much as bread.

It was not just the thousands of runners taking part in yesterday’s races that welcomed its return to the streets of the city, but the many more well-wishers and spectators who thronged the pavements to cheer the competitors home.

It was a day when the whole city came together.

We need more of them.