Maidenhead and it's Bridge

During my current visit to Maidenhead I met up with an old friend, yes I do have some real friends not just virtual ones on social media. We spent a pleasant couple of hours over lunch, a couple of drinks and loads of reminiscences.

We were on a terrace overlooking The Thames and in the shadow of the town's iconic bridge. A couple of flotillas of ducklings headed by their mothers explored their world looking for food in amongst the reeds. A loud skein of Canadian geese passed us at our eye level and flew on upstream. Some swans glided by pushed along by the current and the breeze. A few pleasure boats gently chugged by barely making a ripple in the mirror like surface of the river.

The only disturbance to this scene of peace, serenity and tranquillity was, with seemingly regular monotony, the banshee like wailings of emergency service vehicles as they raced along the A4.

Over lunch we talked about the bridge which is now a Grade I Listed construction. The building of it was completed in 1777, replacing a wooden bridge that was first built in the late 13th century, to facilitate the flow of traffic between London and Bath along the Bath Road. We marvelled at how the architects and engineers had managed to build it 250 years ago without the aid of digital technology or advanced building equipment, both of which we take for granted today.

The bridge was bedecked with Union Jacks hanging from every lamp post across its span. My friend is a Maidonian and wasn't aware of any festivals that had or were about to happen that they may have been put up for. The gentleman who came out to clear our table asked if we knew why the flags were up because he and everyone working at the hotel didn't know either.

I had to go back the next day to take the header picture. It is possible to just make out a Union Jack on the first lamp post but as there was so little breeze the others are hanging flaccidly.

As I lived in Maidenhead many years ago I joined a Facebook page where residents of the town both past and present could find out about old friends, make new ones and swap stories about the past. I have shared a few stories of the family history, friends and even managed to re-connect with a couple of people I went to primary school with.

When I returned to my hotel room I posted the following question below on the group's Facebook page:

"Back in Maidenhead for a few hours today having moved away in 2000. From the terrace of The Thames Riviera Hotel could see the bridge had Union Jacks on it. Is there any reason for this?"

Oh my days. It was a simple question which could have been answered with "I don't know" or "There is such and such a festival soon...", but there was no answer like that at all.

The first wham bam slam dunk answer landed within seconds of my post going live. "How about because we're proud to be British". That comment had sub comments, "the flag should have been put up years ago as people forget". That is forget they are British and won World War II and other jingoistic slogans harking back to another era of food rationing, polluted air from the coal fires, malnutrition and urban areas still recovering from the war. Ah, such halcyon days.

It then got even more spittle flecked and vitriolic answering me with "because its British u knob, ffs how retarded have some people become?" What and where did that come from? Count the characters in his comment, fifty nine to save you the trouble. Bear in mind an average IQ is one hundred and I will leave it you to decide if that contributor's IQ is greater or less than fifty nine.

Someone suggested it was to do with the recent World Cup in which England finished in third place. Doh, if that was the case then surely it should have been the cross of St George hanging from the lamp posts as there is an England team but no Great Britain Team.

Here are a few more comments:

"It's to remind people who the country belongs to."

"...because it should have been flying over 70 years ago before the invasion" (That invasion is referring to the people coming here to settle and contribute to our society and economy.)

"There is nothing shameful about our flag"

Did I say there was? I don't think so.

"...you are a loonie leftie"

What? Just because I asked if there were any festivals about to happen?

There are some nasty under currents sweeping through the navigable arches of the river bridge. They lie just under the surface covertly waiting for the unwary skipper, canoeist or paddleboarders.

My original question, repeated below, couldn't have been any simpler.

Back in Maidenhead for a few hours today having moved away in 2000. From the terrace of The Thames Riviera Hotel could see the bridge had Union Jacks on it. Is there any reason for this?"

I get get the idea that they are there for patriotic reasons and have no issue with that. What I do have an issue with is how that one question revealed a nasty societal undercurrent that is so overt and loud it forgets to allow a rational discussion on an issue which will lead to a mutual understanding, some compromises but above all respect for the other person's viewpoint.

I had a private message from the administrator of the group less than twenty four hours after I first posted my question. They apologised profusely for how I and a few others had been treated, deleted a few comments and closed the posting to all further comments.

Oh well, at least I know I didn't miss a festival of any sort in Maidenhead.