Flagman’s world of flags

New in amongst our Sewn flag selection (click here) are the nylon flags in Union jack and St George.

Nylon is very popular in the US where they know a thing or two about flags!

The design is sewn, as a proper flag should be and the material hard wearing, but the are a fraction of the price of the woven polyester MOD type flags.

At the moment we only have these two flags but we will be looking to extend the range, so please check back.

Quite right too!

 From digitalspy

Glastonbury-goers have voted in favour of keeping flags at the Somerset event.

While early figures on the festival’s official site had revealed opinion to be fairly split, the results have since swung against the ban.

Around 13,000 votes were counted on the contentious subject, with 55% (7,269 votes) in favour of the flags and 45% (5,909 votes) against.

The survey was conducted by organisers of the Worthy Farm bash following Download Festival’s recent decision to exclude flags from its main site in 2010.

A Glastonbury representative said of the outcome: “So, it’s a narrow win for keeping. Big thanks to everyone for taking part.

“As well as the result itself, it’s been really useful to get an idea of the passion this debate raises among festival-goers, by reading your comments across the web.

Here is a bizarre little application for your iphone.

An educational game in which you identify international flags. Great news for flag enthusiast but perhaps a little of a minority choice. Still the advert says it is addictive.

 From Know your mobile

If you live in the UK, the US or much of Europe then you might enjoy the relative normality of your country’s flag. Some might think it boring, but either way, the simple designs are easy to draw or pick out from a group when the need arises.Some countries in far corners of the world have some downright obscure flags which make them harder to learn. The intricate designs and symbols confuse us lowly westerners and leave us embarrassed at pub quizzes when we have no idea to which country the described flag belongs.

Thankfully, we now have Flags Fun to help us avoid such situations. The name might be cheesy and an obvious attempt at making learning sound like entertainment but by gum if you don’t learn your flags by end of a couple of hours with this app then we’ll eat a Union Jack.

There are two modes of play. The first is similar to the simple card game, Pairs, where cards – or indeed flags – are laid face-down on a table. You’re allowed to turn two over at a time and you must remember the location of matched pairs of flags.

The game looks great, with twenty tiles per screen with a stylish design on the back and curved corners, all very much in-line with the sexy iPhone. Each time you match up two correct flags a chime sounds and the name of the country to which the flag belongs appears at the bottom. It’s an effective way to learn and – dare we say it – it’s actually pretty fun too.

You’ve guaranteed to learn a great many flags in this mode that were previously a mystery. Once you’ve done so, it’s time to move on to the ‘Guess the flag’ game mode.

An array of 20 flags is displayed on the screen and a country’s name can be found down the bottom. You must guess which of flags is the corresponding design. This is trickier than the ‘Flags match’  game but should give you a good test when you start becoming familiar with things.

Flags Fun is a remarkably addictive app. You’re given scores and times as you play through the game which gives you something to compete against and it is genuinely useful for learning country’s flags.

If this is something that you either need or would like to do, then you’d be hard pushed to find a more fun, and economic way

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.

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.

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.

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!”

Steve Harrison has written in to say that he bought one of our Armed Forces day flags for his event as detailed below: 

I’ve bought this flag for our fund raising evening for Help4heroes which we are holding on the 13 June at Hamsterley WMC.

We hope to raise as much money as possible which we are donating to RAF Leeming who will forward it to H4H.

Steve Harrison

Now here is a strange little story  From the Daily Star.

It seems the party is selling the Royal Standard and the Queen is somewhat narked by this.

It seems she does not want anyone to sell it, why? It isn’t trademarked as far as I know.

Since the people of the country pay her wages I see no problem in people selling the flag either. (we dont sell it by the way).

Story:

THE Queen was last night said to be furious with the BNP after it emerged the far-right group was funding its election campaign by selling Royal memorabilia.