Time to park the drive for change?
MY SON went to the Brecon Beacons once as part of a militaristic weekend organised by his school. We’d spent a fortune kitting him out in Millets with waterproof everything and little tins to keep his field rations in. Being 13, he was tremendously excited and gung-ho. When he arrived back home he slept for 24 hours, moaned a lot and claimed he had trench foot.army life was not for him.
Ever since then (he’s now 36) I only have to whisper “Brecon Beacons” for him to groan and mime exhaustion.alas I don’t think I will get the same response if I say Bannau Brycheiniog which is the suddenly rebranded Brecon Beacons.
It’s an awkward business changing your name. When I got married I changed my surname in a half-hearted way (because my husband’s French name sounded nice) but when I use it I still feel as though I’m wearing a costume whereas Selway is the real me.
A woman friend who recently got divorced didn’t just ditch her married surname but changed her first name as well because she wanted a whole new identity. I keep forgetting and calling her the wrong thing.
People with titles are always changing names. Look at the Countess of Wessex. Suddenly she gets promoted to Duchess of Edinburgh and must have all her stationery reprinted and new monogrammed slippers. But I don’t imagine Prince Charles has much trouble rethinking himself as King. He has spent a long time practising.
Place names create all sorts of problems. After a few decades I’m almost used to saying Beijing and Mumbai though secretly I think of them as Peking and Bombay.
Earlier this year Black Boy Lane in London’s Haringey was deemed racist and renamed La Rose Lane. Residents were given £300 compensation but I bet it created all kinds of endless admin problems which will stretch out for eternity.
It’s not clear to me why the Brecon Beacons relaunch is necessary. I’m rather in favour of preserving the Welsh language but I don’t buy the justification made by the park’s chief executive Catherine Mealing-jones, who said (referring to the brazier logo): “Given that we’re trying to provide leadership on decarbonisation, a giant burning brazier is not a good look.
“We’ve had awful wildfires over the last few
years. So anything that kind of promotes that idea that fire in the landscape is a good thing made us feel that it probably wasn’t the look we’re going for.”
Pathetic excuse. If all British place names which refer to fires must be changed, then look out Burnley, Burnham-on-crouch, Coalport, and Burntwood in Staffordshire. And here is
your historical footnote. Brychan Brycheiniog, who is now celebrated in the new title, was a legendary fifth century Welsh king. As a young man Brychan was given as a hostage to Benadel, king of Powys. Unfortunately Brychan raped Benadel’s daughter Banadlinet who bore him a son.
Surely he must be cancelled forthwith?