Flagman’s world of flags

Veteran ‘too old’ to carry the flag

November 21st, 2009

 

From the Telegraph 

Mrs Covey has been proudly holding aloft a legion flag pole at remembrance services and commemorations for three decades.

But now, despite her good health and physical fitness, the former air force cook has gone ‘’beyond the age of insurance'’, the Legion said.

Officials from her branch in Wellington, Somerset, have assured Mrs Covey the decision is not personal. Their national rules state 85 is the oldest insurable age and she must stop.

Mrs Covey last carried the flag for the Women’s Section, Wellington And District Branch, on November 11.

She takes no medication and can still drive a car. The standard pole carried by legion members is around eight-feet long, and has brass adornments including a spike on top.

Speaking from her home in Wellington, Mrs Covey said: ‘’They told me that I am not insured after the age of 85 so I asked if I could insure myself, as my son is a broker, and they said no.

‘’But I have been serving for the past two years and no one has said anything until now. I have a pair of good legs and arms, I am not on any medication and my eyesight and heart is good.

‘’I can drive a car but I can’t hold a standard.'’

She has been carrying out standard bearer duties for the Wellington branch and for the Southampton branch since 1974.

She served for four years as a cook in the RAF during the Second World War as well as working for decades with the Women’s Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS).

As well as being chair of the women’s section of the legion branch, she has received the Queen’s medal and various honours in recognition of her work and service.

The standard has to be given back to the legion branch next week but Mrs Covey said she will just leave it outside her front door because she cannot bear to hand it over.

‘’I feel very sad about it, I have shed a few tears, now I am angry about it,'’ she said. ‘’I am very proud to be part of Wellington and to show the flag and my medals.

‘’I felt like giving it all up, but I am very devoted to the legion and I will continue with my other duties.'’

Mrs Covey is now two years past the official age limit and the local legion said it could not ignore the rules forever.

British Legion county chairman, Major Rikki Peters (retired), said the organisation had public liability insurance for events that ended at the age of 85.

Major Peters said: ‘’If Mrs Covey is carrying the standard - or even if she just trips - and it happens to swing down and hit someone then she would not be insured.

‘’I understand that she must be bitterly, bitterly disappointed, but it is a fact of life and there’s is really nothing we can do about it.'’

British Legion county secretary Monica Summers said: ‘’This is nothing personal. It’s the rule book and I have to comply with it, and unfortunately Mrs Covey is beyond the age of insurance.'’

UK and Spain in flag row

November 21st, 2009

From the BBC

 

The UK has apologised to Spain after the Royal Navy used a buoy with the Spanish colours for target practice.

The exercise took place off the coast of Gibraltar earlier this week. The UK ambassador was summoned to the foreign ministry in Madrid to explain.

According to local reports, the navy hastily removed the buoy, which had a red-and-yellow marker, when approached by a Spanish police launch on Tuesday.

Ambassador Giles Paxman conceded it was insensitive and an error of judgement.

While acknowledging that the target had appeared “similar” to the Spanish flag, he insisted that was not what it was supposed to represent.

Spain and Gibraltar map

And he assured his hosts there would be no repetition of the incident.

Later the UK Ministry of Defence clarified that the colours were those of a maritime signal flag used by Nato.

“HMS Scimitar was using Flag No1 during gunnery practice - not the Spanish national flag,” a spokesperson said.

“Flag No1 is traditionally used on gunnery targets due to its high visibility - however, we recognise its similarity to the Spanish national flag and will use an alternative marker during gunnery practice in this area in the future.”

Gibraltar remains the lingering source of tension in an otherwise good relationship between the UK and Spain.

The UK claims a radius of three nautical miles around the Rock of Gibraltar as British territorial waters.

Spain disputes this, and in recent months there have been bad-tempered verbal exchanges between the Royal Navy and the Spanish police.

Spain’s main opposition Popular Party has urged the government to demand what it calls the “respect that Spain deserves”.

 

Worlds most expensive flag sells for £384,000

October 21st, 2009

 

 From the Daily Mail

The only surviving Union Jack from the Battle of Trafalgar today sold for a staggering world record of £384,000 - nearly 40 times its estimate.

The huge flag, that is littered with holes from shot damage and still has a whiff of gunpowder, flew from the jackstaff of HMS Spartiate at the historic battle 204 years ago.

After the victory over Napoleon’s French army, the crew lowered the flag and presented it to Lieutenant James Clephan for his outstanding performance.

This is believed to be a world record for any such Union Jack sold before. 

It is not yet clear if the flag will remain in Britain or go abroad.

A spokesman for Charles Miller Auctions, who sold the standard, said: ‘We are hugely delighted and thrilled with the price, as are James Clephan’s family.  

The only surviving Union Jack from the Battle of Trafalgar was sold today for a record-breaking £384,000 

Riddled with bullet holes and reeking of gunpowder: The only surviving Union Jack from the Battle of Trafalgar sold for a record-breaking £384,000

‘It is way above anyone’s expectations but does reflect the historical importance of the flag and the battle it fluttered in 204 years ago today.’ 
The flag was made from 31 bunting panels by the crew of HMS Spartiate, which was the last ship in line behind Nelson’s HMS Victory as they took on the French at Trafalgar.

Spartiate was actually a French ship but was seized by the British at the Battle of the Nile in 1798.

Its lieutenant was James Clephan, from Fife in Scotland. He was pressed into the navy 1794 aged 26 and excelled as a seaman.

He was made a midshipman in 1801 and rose to lieutenant later that year for distinguishing himself in the successful capture of the French ship Chevrette.

After Trafalgar he was immediately promoted to first lieutenant and by the time his career in the navy finished he was captain of his own ship.

Mr Miller said: ‘The flag is one of the most important, historical items any collector could expect to handle.

‘The damage is probably from bullet holes or splinter fragments, but despite all this it is in amazing condition.

‘You can still even detect the smell that is ingrained within it.

‘Clephan is a remarkable and charismatic survivor from the great age of Georgian sail.
‘It was an incredible achievement for someone who had been pressed to rise to Captain.’

Man to have every national flag tattood on his body

August 6th, 2009

Well, there is no fool like an old fool!  or maybe just a flag nut.

What will he do if a country changes it’s flag?

From the Telegraph

 

 

Mr Rishi, 67, is planning to cover himself in 220 different banners in his quest to become a walking global flag-pole.

Already sporting six tattoos, Canada, Union Jack, India, USA, Cyprus and the Indian Congress Party, on his face, Guinness, who changed his name in honour of the famous record book, believes that he will complete his challenge in three years.

 

 

Good and bad day for the Union Flag

July 31st, 2009

First the commisssioner of the Metropolitan Police decided that his officers could wear the Union Jack in a tie pin to support British troops, then the Government announces that the new ID cards will not have the flag as it might upset the Irish.

What a crazy country we live in.

 If the cards are voluntary I do not thing I will be purchasing one.

Lincoln sorts out it’s flag protocol

July 20th, 2009

Let us hoped their new protocol includes flying the flag on Armed Forces Day

From this is Lincolnshire

The flag-flying protocol for Lincoln and the county has been revealed - an unusual mix of saints days, forces memorials and the birthdays of minor royals.

While the City of Lincoln Council choose a mix of royal, military and religious occasions on which to fly a variety of flags, their county counterparts follow a list produced by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

So yesterday, unlike Armed Forces Day on June 27 when no special flag was flown, the council marked the birthday of the Queen’s sons wife – Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

Debbie Cook, head of democratic services at the council, said: “Lincolnshire County Council has a flag flying protocol, in which it lists days that the Union Flag should be hoisted from County Offices.

“This is done in accordance with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

“And as it was the 17 July and that is the birthday of the Duchess of Cornwall, the Union Flag was flying from the building.”

Brian Furneaux, secretary of the Royal British Legion’s City of Lincoln branch, was surprised to learn the county council marked the birth of Prince Charles’s unpopular second wife but not the military who are such a major part of county life.

“Normally you would think that the city and the county would be together on this sort of thing,” he said.

“It would be interesting to find out why the county council doesn’t fly a flag for armed forces day.”

For more on flags, see Saturday’s Echo.

The meaning of a flag summed up in a poem

July 17th, 2009

General Sir Edward Hanley wrote this short poem about the colours of the 43rd Regiment which he saw in a Church obviously a long time after their use.

It sums up nicely the symbolism flags employ.

A moth eaten rag on a worm eaten pole.


It does not look likely to stir a man’s soul,

‘Tis the deeds that were done ‘neath the moth-eaten rag.


When the pole was a staff, and the rag was a flag’

Maoris consider flag options

July 15th, 2009

From Stuff.co.nz

 

A national debate on a Maori flag to fly at the Auckland Harbour Bridge - and Parliament - on Waitangi Day has begun with the old ensign giving a popular newcomer a run for its money.

A series of taxpayer-supported hui to discuss the flag began yesterday at Auckland’s Te Puea Marae.

Debate was sparked in January when Transit New Zealand refused to fly the tino rangatiratanga flag, designed in 1989, from Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Prime Minister John Key entered the row, saying if Maori could come up with an agreed flag it would not only fly from the bridge, but from Parliament.

Rangatiratanga is competing against the flag of the independent tribes, the existing New Zealand flag and the New Zealand red ensign.

Te Puea Marae did not fly any of them a kingitanga ensign was on its flagpole.

“If you ask the majority of Tainui they would probably say use the kingitanga flag for the national Maori flag,” kaumatua Eru Thompson said.

“A lot of Tainui grew up under that direction.”

He said it did not matter which national Maori flag was selected as Tainui would fly their own on the marae anyway. Nationally, he had a favourite.

“I would boldly say let’s follow the tino rangatiratanga flag that gives us some empowerment.”

The independent tribes flag, dating from 1834, had some support, with one of those at the hui, Paumea McKay saying that it was first.

“It should be used to recognise previous injustices. Once you learn the history of this country you will not make the mistakes of others.”

Matiu Tuhourangi, a tribal historian, said the New Zealand flag should be recognised as being a yacht squadron ensign, as it was originally used by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club. “We want to build bridges between peoples with the first flag. They used it in the Boer War.”

Maori Affairs Minister Pita Sharples said it was important that Maori had a flag as a symbol of “your worth and your mana.”

While leading a debate, he preferred the tino rangatiratanga flag. “It’s different and it’s got a koru in it and it’s balanced, and it’s a nice looking flag and its already starting to feel like my flag.”

Maori Party MP Hone Harawira said the wider population wanted to get rid of the present flag.

“When you travel overseas, people think you are Australian.”

The Union Jack’s time had come, he said. “It’s part of our history but the same part of that history is our Pacific relationships. The Union Jack is not deserving of being the dominant part of the flag any more.”

FLYING THE OPTIONS

* Flag of the independent tribes: Designed by missionary Henry Williams in 1834 and adopted by 25 chiefs of the Far North. It served as the official flag of New Zealand until the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840 when it was replaced with the Union Jack.

* The New Zealand flag: The symbol of the realm, government and people.

* The New Zealand red ensign: Gifted to Maori by Queen Victoria and favoured by Maori as red is a symbol of mana. The 1981 Flags, Emblems and Names Protection Act permits Maori to use this flag on occasions of significance to Maori.

* Tino rangatiratanga: The winner of a national competition in 1989 and unveiled at Waitangi Day in 1990. Its dominant koru represents the unfolding of new life, rebirth, continuity, renewal and hope. It is a symbol of Maori sovereignty.

 

Man who flies Union Jack subject of hate mail labelling him racist

July 7th, 2009

From Croydon Today

 

EXCLUSIVE By Anna Edwards

anna.edwards@essnmedia.co.uk

A dad has been branded a racist – simply for hoisting a Union Jack flag from his shed.

After displaying his patriotism Steve Coe – whose wife is black – received an anonymous letter through the letterbox of his home in Tideswell Road, Shirley.

It accused him of being in the BNP and National Front.
 

The angry letter appears to have been sent by a neighbour, who writes: “If you want to look at the flag put it inside your own home, don’t subject it to others, many find it intrusive and your motives questionable.”

Mr Coe, 46, is an avid collector of British memorabilia and says the flag, which has been flying for the last two weeks, is merely showing his love of all things British.

He said: “I’ve got this letter asking me what my motives are for putting up this flag, and am I a member of the BNP or National Front?

“I’m just a patriotic chap, this letter is awful, really nasty.

“People shouldn’t feel worried about being proud of their country, this is a symbol of our country, how is it racist to have a British flag on your shed?”

Mr Coe has been reassured by Croydon Council that there is nothing wrong with him putting up his flag.

And he says he is willing to meet with whoever has sent him the letter, to show them he isn’t the slightest bit racist.

He added: “It’s very petty, they’ve obviously got nothing better to do.

“Why weren’t they mature about it and come and speak to me? It’s cowardly to do it like this.

“I’ve shown the letter to my neighbours and friends, they are all disgusted.

“Everyone I’ve spoken to, regardless of their creed or colour, has got behind me and condemned it, it’s totally unacceptable.”

His wife, Jocie, finds the letter’s suggestion that there are sinister motives behind the flag particularly laughable – as her family hails from the West Indies.

Mrs Coe, said: “We’re not interfering with anyone else, I don’t know why someone should be so offended.

“I think you have to let people live, writing stuff like this is a bit poisonous.

“My family come from the West Indies, so the idea my husband is a BNP member is ridiculous.

“Maybe they think I’m a servant because they’ve seen me hanging the washing out!”

Labout allowed the SNP to claim the Saltire

July 1st, 2009

From the Times Online, where you will find the whole article

Labour made the mistake in the Nineties of allowing the SNP to “monopolise” the saltire, the Scottish Secretary admittd yesterday.

“We allowed our national symbol - the St Andrew’s Cross - to be co-opted as an image of nationalism,” Jim Murphy said.

In doing so, Labour repeated its mistake of the 1980s when it had allowed Margaret Thatcher to “claim the mantle of patriotism” and wrap herself in the Union flag, he added.

Mr Murphy’s comments came as a poll found that fewer than a third of voters in Scotland want independence.

Twenty eight per cent of those questioned by ICM for BBC Scotland said they wanted to break away from the rest of the UK, compared to 47 per cent who want to remain within the Union but with Holyrood being given enhanced powers, and 22 per cent who want to stay within the UK but with Westminster retaining control of tax and spending.

In his speech yesterday, Mr Murphy sought to reclaim the saltire and to argue there was no contradiction between Scottish and British identities. It has has long been a view held in private by many in Labour circles.

But a leading politics expert dismissed the comments as “irrelevant to contemporary Scotland”.

Professor James Mitchell, of Strathclyde University, said: “Scottish politics has moved well beyond flags. What Labour needs to do is decide what it believes in, not which flag it should be waving.”

He attacked the claim that Labour had abandoned the saltire, saying that it was much used by the party during the 1997 devolution referendum campaign.

Since becoming Scottish Secretary, Mr Murphy has been keen to shed Labour’s image as a London-dominated party - the reason blamed by some for the loss of the Holyrood election in 2007.

His speech on Britishness, a favourite theme of Gordon Brown, is part of Labour’s fightback as it continues to trail the SNP in the polls.

— Next Page »

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