School ‘cancels’ Francis Drake by changing name

TOP historians have criticised a school for ‘cancelling’ Sir Francis Drake over his slave trade links.

Sir Francis is renowned for defeating the Spanish Armada in 1588. But he was also one of the first-known British slave traders.

Sir Francis Drake Primary School in Deptford, south London, is to change its name to Twin Oaks after 88 per cent of the 450 parents, staff and pupils who voted on the move called for the change.

Historian Professor David Abulafia said: ‘Blotting out names is blotting out the past in all its shades.’ Professor Robert Tombs said the ‘bland and meaningless’ new name ‘cuts [the school] off from history.’