So its decided then, Spelthorne Borough Council have set the date of 20th May 2012 to formally celebrate the name change of Staines town to Staines-Upon-Thames with a river party. If the words of Councillor Colin Davis, cabinet member for economic development, are anything to go by “we are looking forward to throwing a party that people will remember for the next 1,000 years”.
The rebrand of Staines to Staines-upon-Thames is seen as an attempt to distance the town from its Ali G-blighted past and highlight the attractions of the town, notably the proximity to the River Thames, which flows through the town. The name change was formally decided in November 2011 after the council’s cabinet voted the recommendation through following a month-long consultation with residents and businesses. A total of 428 respondents voted in favour of changing the name, with 234 opposed.
To mark the formal name change, the council has planned a ceremony to mark the event, with riverside activities including free boat trips and races, and a duck race to raise money for MidasPlus, a Staines-based charity dedicated to helping disadvantaged and disabled people. The ceremonial event on the 22nd May will run from 11am until 7pm in the Memorial Gardens and at the Riverside car park. Among the guests will be Olympic legends Steve Williams OBE and Colin Jackson CBE. Ali G had not been invited apparently, but some residents have promised, somewhat sarcastically perhaps, to turn out as lookalikes.