Ragtag Tuesday: Flying the flag

Last time, we had to get to York to catch the coach to London.  This time, York had two coaches stuffed with its own.  Harrogate and Ripon had two, up from zero.  And Leeds had upped its game from two to five.

Coach to London?  Yes, to support the March for the People’s Vote.  You’ll know there were about 700,000 of us.  You’ll know the arguments.  So let’s just talk about a fun day.

A day in which I could take few photos, because I was on Team North Yorkshire, and often doing duty carrying one end of our banner. We did sing though.  All the Yorkshire marchers who could be found as we passed the Grosvenor Hotel were rounded up for a photo call.  A passing marching band (there were  musicians….)  struck up with ‘On Ilkley Moor baht’at‘ and all right-thinking Yorkshire folk joined in with lots of enthusiasm but little melody.

We talked.  How we talked.  We made common cause with voters from Jeremy Corbyn’s constituency, from Devon, from Northumberland, from Leicestershire – the banners proved that no part of the nation was unrepresented.

And we carried flags.  EU flags, Union Jacks, Yorkshire flags, Italian flags.  Progress was slow.  We snuck off to coffee shops (staffed by Italians) and pubs (staffed by any and every nation) for a quick breather and still easily regained our places.

 

Have you ever tried to fit 700,000 people into Parliament Square?  No, can’t happen.  In any case, thousands and thousands of us were still marching as the speeches started, as they continued, and after they had finished.  That was disappointing, as last time, I’d been inspired and energised by so many fired up and dynamic contributions.

Instead we got street theatre.  Anarchists on wildly decorated bicycles, a Boris Johnson look-alike, a tricycle.  It was, despite our serious purpose, lots of fun.  And tiring.

 

Look.  This is us on the coach home.  Our flags are still in place.

But I’ll end on this story, which makes me in equal measure sad and angry.

On the bus down, a French woman who has lived in the UK for 32 years told us that she no longer feels welcome in the UK, has suffered abuse, and has been told to ‘go home’.  She’d always previously loved Britain’s diversity and felt us to be accepting and tolerant.

And sadly, after two years of this different treatment, she’s decided she and her British husband have had enough and they’re moving to France. Even though she has considered Yorkshire her home for over 30 years.  This is not the first time I’ve heard tales like this.

It’s no secret that I voted Remain.  But nobody, however they voted, seems happy with how things are going.  If you believe that, having been given the chance to vote on continued EU membership, we should now be given the opportunity to vote on the Final Deal (including an option to remain), please write to your MP.  Here’s how.

Click on any image to see it full size.

Today’s Ragtag Challenge is ‘Flag’.

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

18 thoughts on “Ragtag Tuesday: Flying the flag”

  1. Well done you for going from so far away. I hope against hope that the government aka Theresa May will take note! I am so sorry that the Frenchwoman has been so badly treated and ashamed of my countrymen/women.

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  2. It must feel incredible marching with 700 000 people all with a common cause. Well done to you and everyone else who turned out for doing this. Let’s hope it makes a meaningful impact on what has turned out to be even more of a proper disaster than feared. So sorry about it.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Not half as sorry as us! The march was a wonderful experience though, as we were all so good-humoured . You could, in a deeply un-British way, simply talk to anyone, and be met with smiles and friendship.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Brava for you. There seems to be no limit in age to bullying. What are they scared of? Is their world going to be any better if these people leave? Probably not. Sad to say there are bigots among us. It looks like you had a very tiring but worthwhile day, I hope. Cheers.

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  7. Letter sent. I was always a remainer. I am glad you had such a memorable day Margaret. Well done you and surely something has to come out of it ! !

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Chris, who knows? Still, Rosie, Malcolm and I marched with the best! Thanks for writing. Your MP is as unlikely to change his tune as ours, though as a remainer in a remain constituency, he jolly well ought to.

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  8. So good of you to make the effort, but sadly I feel it’s all in vain. It’s all so depressing.

    And the recent news (that you couldn’t make up in your most bizarre nightmare) that ardent Brexiteer, James Dyson, will be supporting and investing in UK, oh no sorry that’s Singapore! What hope is there that any of the so-called leaders of this country will admit they are terribly, terribly wrong and it’s all going to be a short term catastrophe followed by years of grinding decline.

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  9. Just read a bit on it as I wasn’t familiar with the issue. They had the vote back in 2016? It looks like the vote was very close. And are getting ready to split early 2019? Can they do a revote if enough people demand it? The problem I’m seeing is if people’s nonBritish spouses are getting harassed and they are leaving, if they had a revote, some of the people against Brexit may have left the country. The problem with isolationist policies is it does give rise to a rising trend in prejudice and everyone is so focused on the financial aspects, the government doesn’t seem to be addressing the social ones. Maybe they will later. Not sure what to say. Good luck doesn’t seem to cover it. It’s tough when policies go through that you are against. I have Trump for president — it’s awful. He is getting a lot of judges on federal benches that are very conservative so in a few years some legal protections will be gone for the general public but legal protections for businesses will increase so I feel for you on the subject of disagreeable governmental decisions. Although with any luck we’ll be rid of Trump soon but for Brexit, it may last quite a bit longer than four years.

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    1. The vote was way too close for such a far-reaching constitutional change. That’s why we’re battling, as well as because the negotiations aren’t going well, and both Brexiters and Remainers are alarmed. Euro/British couples is only one problem. So many jobs and services depend on workers from Europe. Our NHS can’t function without doctors and nurses from abroad. Trump and the right generally seem responsible for so much that’s going wrong with the world at the moment. Troubling times.

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