Why are you doing this?

I’m raising funds for the Critical Care facility within Poole Hospital. Hopefully if we raise enough they will be able to afford a NovaLung, which was a vital piece of equipment in helping Mum through her stay in the hospital last year.

So in order to do this, I decided to add not just one but THREE middle names to my name. They can be anything - descriptive words, popular brands of bathroom bleach, Superheroes, ice-cream flavours...and I'm going to be stuck with them forever! So it's time for you lot to get creative.

 

How do I submit a name?

You can talk to either Michael Braunton or Alex Welch when you see them. If you want to donate online, you can then email your suggestions to renamerebecca@gmail.com.

Submissions will cost £1 each, with all funds going towards the Critical Care facility.

 

Are you changing your whole name?

No, just adding middle names.

 

What are the limitations?

According to Deed Poll UK, there is a list of restrictions:

-         No obscenities (including slang or biological terms)

-         No titles e.g. Lord, Sir, Doctor

-         No punctuation, symbols or numbers, e.g. @

-         Nothing pertaining to criminal activity, racial or religious hatred

The restriction on first and middle names is 250 characters, leaving you lot 237 characters to play with. J

On top of this, I encourage you to be creative but not cruel – “Monkeyface” is funny, “Fatty” is not. Michael and Alex will be vetting the submissions.

Bear in mind that after April 2013 I will be a Braunton, so if you pick a middle name that goes with Welch (e.g. Squelch) it won’t make much sense!

 

Can I name you after my favourite celebrity/product?

Yep! According to Deed Poll, I can be named after a celeb or a brand/trademarked name as long as I don’t start releasing material under that name.

 

What happens if someone has already picked my suggestion?

If you nominate a name that is already on the list, you can either think of another one or you can choose to re-nominate that name. You can’t knowingly enter the same name several times, otherwise it isn’t fair on others.

 

When is the draw?

My new names will be drawn at 8PM on Wednesday 30 November at The Grasshopper, Bournemouth Road, Parkstone.

Prior to the draw, each name will be placed in a bag. I will then draw the names out of the bag one by one. I am picking THREE names in total. There’s no going back, and I’m stuck with what I draw whether I like it or not! To soften the blow, I will decide what order the names go in.

 

What happens after the draw?

After the draw, I will sign the Deed Poll forms under my new name and send them off. I will then receive the documentation to change my name legally with the UK Passport office and the DVLA. My Facebook name will be changed to display my new name.

So get your thinking caps on!