Fixation on the Past

 We went away to Hay-on-Wye for a long weekend. While there I spotted this image in the marketplace.

The Town Crier of the 1800s was obviously so secure in his Britishness that he felt comfortable wearing his everyday clothing while performing his duties. 

In the 21st Century, however, the Town Crier in Hay, and a lot of other towns up and down the country, feel the need to revert to the clothing from a time when we had a powerful Empire.

Ceremonial uniform, the clothing of lawyers and judges and a host of other activities are from the 18th and 19th Centuries and haven't moved on. It's as if we're stuck in time - a time when Britain was indeed Great. Britain is fixated on the past.