Kwasi attended Staines-upon-Thames Day to mark the official renaming of Staines. The Lord-Lieutenant of Surrey, Dame Sarah Goad JP, officially announced the name change, and Kwasi helped unveil a replica London Stone. After the ceremonies, there was live music, roman re-enactments, boat trips and a charity duck race. Hundreds of people came along.
In an article for the Surrey Herald & News, Kwasi commented:
Believe it or not but the name change is not the first in Staines' history. During the Roman period, the town was known as Ad Pontes, meaning 'at the bridges'. After the Romans left Britain – in 410 AD – the town decayed and the name was forgotten. The Saxons settled to the west of today's town centre and a Charter of 969 contains the first known mention of a settlement named Stanes; it's from this Saxon word, meaning stones, that the name Staines originates. The town has obviously developed a lot since then.
During the middle ages, Staines became a prosperous market town. Annual fairs were held from 1228 that included the trading of horses, sheep and cattle. By the 19th Century, industrialisation resulted in the construction of factories, which brought new prosperity. Staines' most famous export was linoleum; a ubiquitous floor covering that was laid in homes and buildings across the world. Today, the town is a favoured location of many large businesses and is an important shopping centre serving a wide area.
In many ways, the change to Staines-upon-Thames marks the start of a new chapter in this story. Indeed, a name in itself is symbolically significant. More important though, will be how the town develops over the next few years. Building on the name change to make more of the magnificent riverside location would be a good start.