Red balloons !

It was early in 1967 that Harold Wilson’s Government designated an area of land in North Buckinghamshire to build a new city. In the post war years there had been a number of new towns built to accommodate the growing population, particularly of London and the South-East but this was different this was to be a new city.

Early thinking was to name it The New City of Bletchley but that now is almost forgotten. It was thought that taking a name from the centre of the designated area rather than that of the biggest populated part of the new city would be better. Hence Milton Keynes. I think that was a wise move.

I came to live in Milton Keynes in September 1971 when it was little more than an idea on a sheet of paper.

Over the next five to ten years residents complained Milton Keynes had no identity. Looking back I wonder how it could be expected the biggest development and  migration of people in British history could magic an identity out of thin air. Indeed more than fifty years later it could be thought that identity still would not have taken shape. Nothing could be further away  from the truth. Milton Keynes a diverse culture where people from across Britain and from outside the shores of our island make Milton Keynes a unique and special place to live.

People from London are known as Londers. People from Birmingham are nicknamed Brummies. Manchester Mancunians and Liverpool Liverpudlians. Milton Keynes – we are Mkeneyans ! Mkeneyans and proud so to be.

The who area was once an Anglo Saxon settlement with its court where the present Milton Keynes civic offices now stand. There are those across all generations who were born here while immigrants like myself are proud Mkeneyans.

This bringing together of so many special people in its own right could be celebrated by our home being given a city charter so we become Mkeneyan CITYzens but beyond the people there is so much supporting this view.