Severn Beach Slave trade memorial plan

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

A good many of them, perhaps as many as half, commented on Edward Colston - "change the name - stop bigging up a slave trader" was typical.  So BNM and I are not alone in thinking that the name needs to change.

Bristol is at the forefront of places that are slow to change. To this day, people still tell me they get Family Allowance, replaced by Child Benefit on 6 December 1971. Change the name to the Ferguson Hall or whatever, and 40 years from now exasperated telephone sales staff will be telling callers "It's what used to be the Colston Hall".

I'm not in favour of ethnic cleansing of place names, not even when they have a sinister connotation, like this one, or even the Wills Memorial Building. It's history, be it good or bad, and there to be learned from.

[JayMac]

The history can still be taught despite a name change. Explaining why.

I don't buy the analogy with state benefits. No dark sinister history there. The DHSS DSS DWP has its faults but it's part of the admirable welfare system we have in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). Word reaches me that some of the staff who work there ain't that bad either.

So yes, name changes. But definitely not Ferguson Hall. Sir Alex has fupp all to do with Bristol. 

Right, I'm going to have a chomp on a Marathon and chew some Opal Fruits. After I've cleaned the bath with Jif. Phoned my friend about that Datsun of his. And called Mercury one2one one2one T-Mobile EE about my mobile phone.

[TonyK]

The history can still be taught despite a name change. Explaining why.

I don't buy the analogy with state benefits. No dark sinister history there. The DHSS DSS DWP has its faults but it's part of the admirable welfare system we have in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom). Word reaches me that some of the staff who work there ain't that bad either.

I wouldn't go that far...