Lament for an Era

I somehow managed to miss the news, almost two weeks old, that the hitherto ubiquitous Howard Brown has been removed from Halifax advertising. And no, I didn't know his name before now either. Remarkable. I rather assumed his name was "Halifax Guy", and that he'd been christened by very farsighted parents. Nonetheless, this comes as shocking news. As the Independent article to which I linked notes, Brown's cheery countenance was not for the recession. In addition, perhaps some high-ranking bankers became nervous about the numerous implications of a bank that promised "extra" when applied to their rather sizeable chunk of the "extra" pie.

Of course, Brown was merely the public face of an institution dark and Machiavellian enough to rival Mordor or Skaro. As Derek noted in a previous WAKE UP article, the Halifax dancers were imprisoned and forced to dance for the amusement of others, and the ultimate betterment of the bank (I'd link to the article, but unfortunately I can't hyperlink to paper. I've tried.) So really the end of Brown's era shouldn't be mourned too much. Of course, Brown is just the figurehead, the mouthpiece; the Mouth of Sauron, if I may continue to extend a metaphor (I can't think of a Dalek equivalent; they're not much for talking or image, really). The real manipulators remain in place.

There is something rather sad about the whole thing, though. As Brown joins the huddled masses of the unemployed, we find ourselves asking: should a man be laid off for his cheeriness in a time of doom and gloom? Were the Marx Brothers fired for bringing slapstick into the Great Depression? Were medieval jesters, with their highly developed farting skills, laid off for bringing humour into the court? Was Gavin and Stacey wiped from the airwaves for bringing joy to the dystopian wasteland that is Wales?

Howard Brown has unexpectedly become a luminary; a symbol for all those determined to enjoy life whatever the circumstances. We will dance on the beaches! We will sing mangled versions of classic pop songs in the streets! We will never surrender!

Truly, we are humbled to share the Earth with him.

Good night, sweet prince, and a flight of angels sing thee to thy cheery retirement.