Gary Blackburn remains critical "Little Britain" is affected by Brexit

Kretzhaus · His exhibition "Little Britain" made headlines. But now Englishman Gary Blackburn from Baumdienst Siebengebirge looks critically at the Brexit. His company will also be affected by the EU withdrawal.

The Queen has been banished by Gary Blackburn from his wooden hut. Reasons are the Brexit negotiations and the fear of the 54-year-old Brit. He has lived in Germany since 1985 and has officially had dual citizenship since January 11 this year, after taking the naturalisation test in December last year. "I delayed it as long as I could. So far I've never had any problems with my passport and I'm a proud Englishman," says Blackburn.

He started with his private and free exhibition "Little Britain" including a double-decker bus and 52-ton Centurion tanks right after the Brexit referendum. In his opinion, people were not properly informed before the vote. He is certain that a second referendum would have a different outcome. He set up the first installations of the exhibition – red telephone booths and a life-size Queen – in 2016: "I wanted to talk about the subject, but actually thought it would all go by much faster and differently. Last summer, as reported, the district administration got involved due to a lack of planning permission. The exhibition had to be dismantled, at least in part.

Negotiations with the administration

Blackburn and the administration are now in negotiations and the Englishman hopes to be able to reopen in 2020. "It may take longer, but we are negotiating and doing on a small scale what England should do with Brussels – exchange and agree. But here in Kretzhaus there will be no Brexit." For him, "Little Britain" is a sign of German-British friendship: "I want people to see how beautiful England is and not that there will soon be a bad mood between the countries.“

Not only for the „mood", but also for his company, Baumdienst Siebengebirge, England's withdrawal from the European Union could become a real problem. In addition to its twelve permanent employees, Blackburn employs around twelve seasonal workers from England every year. The training of tree caretakers there is much more extensive than in Germany.

"In England it takes years, in Germany one can be trained in few weeks to the tree climber. But that's not the same," Blackburn’s 28-year-old son Kevin emphasizes. Therefore he and his brother Luke were sent by their father to England and completed the additional training in the fast run there. "People are now asking specifically for English workers because they notice the qualitative differences," says Blackburn.

Language test passed in first attempt

Luke and Kevin are regularly approached by customers about the Brexit and its effects. And if they had been allowed to vote, everyone would have agreed they’d have voted against it. But Blackburn’s children are born in Germany and he also lives here already too long and was not allowed to vote – against the resignation. Britons who have been living abroad for more than 15 years were not entitled to vote in the referendum.

He did not have to prepare long for the naturalisation test. He also passed the required language test at the first attempt: "And that, although I learned German only from listening".He has already dealt intensively with the German bureaucracy because of "Little Britain": "I have adapted the way it should be, and I am getting on very well here. We lead a good life and the whole family feels at home in Germany." But also in England. His children grew up bilingual. In the evening there is no German television, but English television.

Mr. Bean next to Johnny English

Part of the typical English television programme can still be seen today in Gary Blackburn's hut. Mr. Bean sits on the sofa on which Queen Elisabeth II was previously seated. Next to him stands the spy Johnny English with his gun drawn. "He wants to prevent Mr. Bean from becoming a German citizen," says Blackburn and laughs.

Although he still takes the developments with humour, the 54-year-old is affected. "The British Parliament should do nothing it regrets later. The hard times will finally pass, but when they resign, there's no turning back." He does not yet know how he and his company will deal with the resignation.

"It'll be a challenge"

The seasonal workers from England were previously active throughout Europe. He has known and employed them for years. "But when the people have to apply for a visa, it is approved when the work is done. The Brexit would definitely hit my company and especially the seasonal workers from England.“

Even his pension notice would be affected: "I worked for years in England, but also in Germany", he says with a view to a thick file in which he collects all the documents of the naturalisation notice. Kevin Blackburn stresses: "It's a pity that young people in England see themselves as Europeans. That is taken from them." His brother adds: "Of course we have to accept the situation that way, but professionally it will be a challenge.“ Original text: Elena Sebening Translation: Mareike Graepel

Meistgelesen
Neueste Artikel
Zum Thema
Aus dem Ressort