Getting carried away

By Jason Moore DID you know that most main Spanish cities have a Calle Trafalgar? There is even one in Palma. It is quite amazing that Spain marks the epic battle in such a way and the anniversary event in Cadiz last week underlined its importance to the Spanish. While I understand that it launched what was to be called Pax Britannia and led to the downfall of Napolean I would say that six months of events in Britain to mark a battle 200 years ago is rather excessive. Surely the fleet review in Portsmouth last June, along with the firework display, was enough to satisfy even the most ardent historians? It does set rather a dangerous precedent and I find myself asking why? This year marked the 60th annivesary of the end of World War 2 and compared to Trafalgar the events palled into insignificance. Why? The fact that many people still remember the end of WW2 is another reason why it should be marked in a special way. Both Spain and France behaved admirably during the Trafalgar events. In some ways the French rather stole the show at the Fleet Review, sending their biggest warship, far larger than anything Britain has these days. The Spanish also sent their biggest warships to the wreath laying ceremony off Cadiz last weekend. But if we have done so much for Trafalgar, will we be continuing with the trend? Will we be celebrating the 250th anniversary of Trafalgar, or the 70th anniversary of the evacuation of Dunkirk and the Battle of Britain in five years time? It would have probably been far more productive for part of the money which has been spent on the Trafalgar celebrations to be channelled into Spanish, British and French schools to ensure that children learn about the battle rather than costly displays of military hardware or ensuring that every major city in Britain has a street named after the battle, as a constant reminder.