May 20-26, 1928, was Empire Shopping Week, but Lucy was having none of it!
Enjoy this meticulous piece of historical detail in A Distant Prospect, by Annette Young:
We resumed our walk up King Street and paused occasionally to look at the window displays. It was Empire Week and the Union Jack was unfurled in every shop. Bold maps boasted Britain’s dominions and hailed the Albion triumph of the seven seas. ‘Land of Hope and Glory’ was the only tune to be heard in Bray’s music, while Shakespeare, Tennyson and a whole host of English literary greats were wreathed and Jacked in the bookshop window. ‘Buy British’ was the order of the day and British goods and British slogans were brandished far and wide to make sure everyone did. Much to my annoyance, even the studio had contributed more than its tuppenceworth of flags and photographs. But, as Daid explained, that was Mr Birstall’s idea and it was Mr Birstall’s shop after all. We would have our turn come St Patrick’s Day, and what a window display we would put up then! My reply to that was ‘Erin go braugh’ and I would say it every time I saw a Union Jack.
‘What are you muttering about?’ asked Della as we passed yet another flag.
‘Erin go braugh: Ireland forever,’ I replied. ‘Ireland forever!’ I repeated more loudly. One passer-by turned her head. ‘Erin go braugh!’ I shouted at her, waving a crutch as I did.
‘Troublemaker,’ Della laughed and gave my sleeve a tug. ‘Take me home.’
(A Distant Prospect would make a lovely St Patrick’s Day gift.)