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Oxfordshire pub changes ‘offensive’ name
Greene King’s Abingdon pub The Midget will be renamed after campaigners petitioned for it to be changed – but some suggest that it is erasing the area’s automotive heritage.
Once it reopens after refurbishment starting this month, the pub in Abingdon will be named The Roaring Raindrop.
Its previous name, The Midget, is a reference to the MG Midget sports car, which was manufactured by MG in Abingdon from 1961 to 1979. The pub’s sign also sported an image of the vehicle. Prior to 2002, it was known as The Magic Midget, also a reference to the car.
However, some considered the pub’s name to be offensive regardless of its context, as ‘midget’ can be used as a derogatory term for people with dwarfism.
Dr Erin Pritchard, a senior lecturer in Disability Studies at Liverpool Hope University, who has dwarfism herself, petitioned Greene King to change the name, arguing that “the term [‘midget’] was popularised during the Victorian freak show, but unfortunately continues to be used as a form of hate speech towards people with dwarfism”.
Pritchard also criticised the pub name’s omission of ‘MG’, suggesting that its automotive connection was not immediately obvious, and that it was tantamount to “disablist hate speech and flouts the Equality Act (2010)”. The petition gained more than 1,000 signatures.
The new name refers to the Roaring Raindrop land speed record car, also produced by MG.
However, a counter petition has now been launched to keep the name as The Midget – and, at the time of writing, it has already attracted more than 2,700 signatures.
“I’m sure a lot of people will disagree with this decision and In my opinion I think it is ridiculous,” said the petition’s creator Joe Lawlor. “The naming is part of Abingdon’s history.”
Nigel Stead, who has also launched a petition against the move (which currently has 72 signatures), wrote: “It’s imperative to state that this name does not in any way symbolise disrespect towards people with dwarfism. In fact, one might ask, do they want the name ‘MG Midget’ banned too?”
“It might be argued that names evolve with times, but heritage is not something you can change,” said Stead. “Heritage is our past presented to our future. The MG Car company, a significant part of this fabric, and The Midget, as a symbol of this legacy, must stay. Let’s stand up to preserve our heritage and identity.”
Zoe Bowley, managing director of Greene King pubs, commented: “We thought long and hard about changing the pub’s name and we’re also grateful to Dr Erin Pritchard who has engaged with us on the offence and hurt the name ‘Midget’ can cause. We hope that making the change in this way helps to preserve our pub’s historic links to Abingdon’s past while simultaneously ensuring our pub can be a place where everyone feels welcome.”
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