The new Embo flag – a community flag representing this tiny Sutherland village – recently entered the Flag Registry. Its origins date back to 16 July 1988, when the village declared UDI as the ‘Independent State of Embo’. The flag was a horizontal tricolour of red, gold and blue. Red represents Embo’s Viking heritage; gold, […]
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Talking flags, community and identity
Talking flags, community and identity with the Big Issue. That’s our President Malcolm Farrow in his latest round of press and radio interviews. www.bigissue.com/news/politics/wave-st-georges-flags-england-national-identity/ Catch up with our earlier Flag Institute press release here. And follow us on BlueSky … “A flag is nothing more than a symbol. That’s all it is. Humanity, ever since […]
New Cumbria flag unveiled
The new Cumbria flag – a community flag representing the county as a whole – has entered the UK Flag Registry. Ben Walker’s winning design features a bold horizontal zigzag pattern in green and yellow, representing the rugged local landscape. Above this, on a blue field, is a heraldic ancient crown, evoking Cumbria’s past as […]
Flags in the spotlight: FI press release
With flags in the spotlight countrywide, late August has been a hectic time for the Flag Institute. In 30+ radio and press interviews, President Malcolm Farrow and Chief Vexillologist Graham Bartram have been discussing how flags reflect history, community and identity across the UK. Meanwhile CEO Leigh Wetherall has issued a press release urging ‘individuals, […]
New Girvan flag unveiled
A hoisting ceremony on Saturday 2 August unveiled the overwhelming winner of the recent Girvan flag competition. Winter Ingram of Sacred Heart Primary designed a flag with a black Ailsa Craig and green waves for the river Girvan and the sea, reflecting the town’s maritime heritage and civic identity. Around half of voters chose her […]
Design a flag for Cumbria
Design a community flag for Cumbria! Many English counties already have community flags, but Cumbria doesn’t – yet! An official county flag was created in 1974 for use by councils and public buildings. However, a community flag for Cumbria will belong to everyone. It will celebrate Cumbria’s heritage and culture, raise its profile nationally, express […]
Design a flag for Girvan
Design a flag for Girvan – that’s the challenge laid down by this South Ayrshire town. After spotting the Caithness flag during a chance visit, a member of Girvan’s lifeboat crew came up with the idea. And now over a dozen schools, councils and community groups – led by Girvan Arts Festival – have come together […]
Bothwell Flag unveiled
The Lanarkshire town of Bothwell has its own flag to fly, after an unveiling ceremony at Bothwell Parish Church on Saturday 11 January 2025. Ava McBain – a Year 7 pupil at Muiredge Primary School, Uddingston – was the winner of Bothwell’s recent flag competition, gaining 53% of the public vote. Her design represents a […]
Meet our new Trustee
A warm welcome to Jonathan Jarrett, our new Flag Institute Trustee. A University of Manchester graduate, with a Master’s degree in Chemistry (2019), Jonathan now works in software development, primarily as a ‘back-end’ developer. He is fascinated by the history and evolution of flags and captivated by their symbolism and cultural significance, especially in historical […]
Wool, I never! Flagmaster 169 is out now
Wool, I never! Flagmaster 169 is out in print and PDF. Longhair sheep on the front cover? Read Aemile Lalk’s feature to find why. Elsewhere Flagmaster offers its usual rich array of articles, updates and insights. On the flags of Qatar, St Pierre and Miquelon, and the UK’s National Fire Service during the Second World […]
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