Paul Holdsworth, a local boatmaster, had worked for Windermere Lake Cruises (WLC) for 10 years, but quit in “disgust” after employees were banned from...
Smoking? Driving too fast?
...making reference to slavery in their commentaries.
Oh...
The company told employees that disclosing such information may cause distress or upset to passengers. It also said that the guidebook, which tourists can buy, was being updated and references to slavery have been removed. Holdsworth said that over the past 10 years, skippers were free to make up their own commentaries during boat tours, and employees talked of all aspects of Windermere’s life and history.
Did they all blather on about slavery then, Paul? Or...was that just you, perhaps...?
“In the end, I realised they weren’t going to change and that I couldn’t persuade them. They were going to expect me to be complicit in them censoring history and that was something, in all good conscience, that I couldn’t possibly do. So I walked away.”
Great! Now you can set up your own tour company and witter on about slavery to your heart's content, can't you? I mean, how can such a business plan fail? There'll be queues all around Windermere, I'll bet.
The local group Anti Racist Cumbria has been supporting Holdsworth since his resignation and approached WLC to offer its support to co-create respectful transcripts and wording. They are yet to receive a response.
Heh! Good.
A spokesperson for WLC said: “We are not an organisation responsible for providing education or historical interpretation of the area in which we operate and felt there was no compelling need to refer to the transatlantic trade of enslaved people, given that this aspect of our commentary had been the source of complaints.”
At last, a company prepared to stand up to the crazies! It's about the only thing that'd get me on a boat...
Historical interpretation =Lies (Usually)
ReplyDeleteSpot on!
DeleteJH: Slavery's a terrible thing ... I'm a slave to chocolate. Rum and raisin.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that slather-y? :)
Delete😂
DeleteA little known aspect of Lake District history.
ReplyDeleteHow many Africans, captured by other Africans and traded for now priceless bronze, were crammed into yachts and transported across the treacherous waters of the Lake of Windermere. Just to perish picking daffodils in the extreme climate of Lake District Springs.
Even the term "boatmaster" is redolent of white privilege.
Go for it Paul.
World lecture tours, celebrity status, Oprah interviews.
What's that? You are White. Not Trans. Drove a Diesel powered boat. Ah well, good luck Paul.