Notre Dame,

It was terribly saddening to see the news of the

devastating blaze that had engulfed one of Paris’ most iconic structures.

I was fortunate enough to visit the architectural marvel three and a half years ago. Like so many, I was blown away by its beauty, excellence and resonance with history.

In addition to its aesthetic beauty and cultural significance, being synonymous with the “Hunchback Of Notre Dame” story meant that the incident will have struck a chord with people from around the world, irrespective of whether they had the privilege of visiting the church.

Paris has endured a number of hardships in recent history and I send out my prayers to the people of Paris, France and beyond. I remain optimistic that with the support of the wider community it can be fully restored and continue to stand tall as one of the great pillars of such a magnificent city.