Calais, England
In an engaging publicity stunt, the local authorities in Calais have declared themselves part of Southern England, at least for the duration of the 2012 Olympic Games. Their new Mission 2012 campaign has already apparently attracted some sports teams who don’t fancy the food and transport horrors that await them in London - and who can blame them?
Calais was of course part of England until 1558 when it fell to the French. Although the inhabitants celebrated at the time, they have spent the ensuing 500-plus years being either ignored or patronised by the Paris elite - a fact that still rankles, given the comment by one of their councillors that “We would undoubtedly have been far less [involved] in the Paris Olympic games.”
But as well as attracting international sports stars and tourists, the neatness of this stunt is the warm feelings it will engender in the hearts of patriotic Brits who might add an extra trip over this summer to this little corner of France that is forever England.
It gets you thinking. What about reversing the terrible mistake of 1558? Would the burghers of Calais be inclined to swap good food, excellent sporting and arts facilities, fast reliable trains, and cheap booze and fags for the joys of a permanent place in Brown’s Britain? Err…
Would anyoone like to start a campaign to mereg the Home Counties with the French Republic instead?