Seasons Greetings
Posted: December 22, 2011 Filed under: General | Tags: bunting, car flags, flagpoles, happy holiday, merry christmas, windsocks Leave a commentOn behalf of everyone here at www.worldflagshop.com, we wish you all a Merry Christmas, New Year, and a happy holiday season.
Whilst we are not here, our website still is and will be more than happy to take your orders for flags, handflags, car flags, bunting, windsocks and flagpoles
Rare red Jolly Roger pirate flag captured in battle off north Africa 230 years ago goes on display for first time
Posted: December 16, 2011 Filed under: General | Tags: jolly roger flag, skull and crossbones Leave a commentWith thanks to http://www.dailymail.co.uk 16/12/11
It was used to frighten passing ships into surrendering without a fight – the red background meaning the pirates would spare no life if a battle commenced.
Now a rare 18th Century Jolly Roger flag captured in battle in 1780 has gone on display for the first time.
It has taken pride of place at the National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) at Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard.
Fearsome: The red Jolly Roger which has gone on display for the first time since it was captured off the north African coast in 1790 by a British seaman
Museum curators say the dreaded skull and crossbones is an excellent example of ones used at those times.
A Jolly Roger with a red rather than a black background was most feared as it meant no life would be spared in a ship’s capture.
The ensign has been loaned to the museum by Pamela Curry, a descendant of Lt Richard Curry, who captured it in battle off the north African coast.
Richard Noyce, curator of artefacts at the museum, said: ‘Pirates always attract much interest, no doubt in part due to the many Hollywood films about them.
‘However, in reality they weren’t the loveable rogues they are often portrayed as.
‘Then, as now, pirates were seen as a threat to trade and great efforts were made to suppress their criminal activities.’
Much interest: Curator of artefacts Richard Noyce with the flag at the National Museum of the Royal Navy at Portsmouth’s Historic Dockyard
Gunpowder and small holes with charred edges were found on the flag when it was restored at the Winchester School of Art’s Textile Conservation Centre in 2007.
The skull and crossbones derived from the symbol used in ships’ logs, where it represented death on board.
It was first used on a pirate flag around 1700 and quickly became popular.
It is thought the early designs were in red until pirates began developing their own styles including the perhaps recognisable version with a black background.
Rich history: The flag has been loaned to the museum by a descendant of the man who captured it in conflict 220 years ago
As piracy developed, more flags were used, and pirates often had their own versions, such as a skull and crossed swords.
The title Jolly Roger is thought to come from the French phrase ‘joli rouge‘ which means ‘pretty red’.
In the museum intends to show how the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary fought and continues to fight piracy in its new 20th and 21st Century galleries, set to open in 2014.
Every fancied having your own Pirate flag? From the Joli Rouge, to more comical titles like ‘Time Flies When Your Having Rum‘, then why not get your own one, and visit www.worldflagshop.com. Ooh AArrrr!!!
Foreign Office in a flap over Welsh flag
Posted: December 12, 2011 Filed under: Flags in the News Leave a commentTHE Foreign Office has been hit by confusion over the name of the national flag of Wales.
Conservative Foreign Minister Henry Bellingham caused a flap when he named the flag of St David as one of the UK’s three national flags which can be flown from the department’s overseas posts and residences.
However, since 1959 the official flag of Wales has been Y Ddraig Goch (the Red Dragon).
The flag of St David features a yellow cross on a black background, as seen in the coat of arms of the St David’s diocese.
“Our work to enhance security, protect British nationals and build UK prosperity in 270 diplomatic offices around the world benefits Wales as it does the rest of the UK.
“We take this work very seriously. Many embassies mark St David’s Day by flying the Y Ddraig Goch flag, by promoting Wales and St David’s Day on their websites and through attending events organised by local Welsh societies and the Welsh Government.”
But Plaid Cymru Arfon MP Hywel Williams said the gaffe was symptomatic of a failure to represent Wales properly on the world stage.
He said: “The flags of St David and Y Ddraig Goch are quite different and distinct from each other and it is always a pleasure to see those being flown, both inside and outside Wales.
“While we can safely assume this is a stupid mistake and they are referring to Y Ddraig Goch, this carelessness by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office nevertheless betrays the attitude of the FCO and the UK Government towards Wales.
“The FCO, for example, are unable to explain how many events are held by UK embassies to celebrate St David’s Day or what opportunities are used to promote Welsh culture abroad.
“This is a common theme amongst UK organisations which promote the British state outside of the UK as being one homogenous country rather than a multi-level, multi-national state.
“Wales makes up 5% of the UK population, but it is perfectly clear that UK spending on the promotion of Wales outside the UK is fractional, rather than proportional – with the honourable exception of the highly successful, but nevertheless under-funded, British Council project in Patagonia.”
Welsh Dragon or St David’s. All your Welsh flags available here: Just visit www.worldflagshop.com
Now that’s patriotic! Bear Grylls wears Union flag slippers to meet the Queen
Posted: December 9, 2011 Filed under: Flags in the News Leave a commentSlippers arent exactly out thing, but if you would like to wear one of our bespoke waistcoats, then when not visit our website, www.worldflagshop.com
Having walked through some of the harshest terrains on earth Bear Grylls could be forgiven for deciding to use some comfortable footwear.
However, the intrepid adventurer decided to wear Union flag patterned slippers to meet Queen Elizabeth II tonight.
The 37-year-old was at Buckingham Palace this evening at a reception for the country’s most intrepid explorers which he marked by wearing the patriotic shoes.
The UK Chief Scout was proud of his footwear, which he described as perfect for the Queen’s official home.
Grylls, who said the loafers were a Christmas present from his wife, Shara, added: ‘If you can’t wear Union Jack shoes in Buckingham Palace, where can you wear them?
Bear had also been spotted wearing the patriotic footwear last week when he attended The Global Angel Awards at Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel.
www.dailymail.co.uk – J.J.Anisiobi – 9/12/11
Eureka flag restored and returned for rebellion anniversary
Posted: December 2, 2011 Filed under: General Leave a commentThis story is courtesy of ABC Ballarat 2/12/11- by Margaret Burin.
The symbolic flag of the Eureka Stockade has returned to Ballarat after undergoing hundreds of hours of repair work in South Australia. It’s back one day before the battle’s 157th anniversary.
The battle at Eureka Stockade was fought on 3 December 1854.
Gold miners burnt their licenses and flew a flag of the Southern Cross as an oath to stand up against high taxes and harassment from authorities.
The flag has been unveiled at the Art Gallery of Ballarat after undergoing a $150,000 facelift over 14 months.
About 40 per cent of the original flag is missing because parts of the material have been souvenired over the years.
Conservators have replaced the polyester backing with natural fibre on the damaged four-metre by 2.6-metre flag.
It’s been stitched to a woollen backing cloth and mounted on a strong lightweight aluminium backboard.
Principal conservator Kristin Phillips says the decision was made not to try and find the missing pieces and stitch them back in.
She says a treatment was done in 1973 but recent works were a very important part of the historical flag’s ongoing care.
“I would say it’s the most important European textile in Australia and it certainly was a great privilege to work on it.
“It’s very exciting to see the completion of the project. It’s been a part of my life for over a year now and it’s fantastic to see it back in Ballarat in a purpose built case and looking fabulous.”
The flag was accompanied by armed men to and from South Australia for its first trip out of Victoria.
It will be on public display at the gallery from 2 December.
Keep a piece of history in your own home, and buy the Eureka flag directly from www.worldflagshop.com. All Australian State & Territory flags are available to purchase here too!
Shrewsbury to fly the flag for Diamond Jubilee
Posted: December 1, 2011 Filed under: Flags in the News Leave a commentShrewsbury to fly the flag for Diamond Jubilee
Wednesday 30th November 2011, 5:00PM GMT. http://www.shropshirestar.com
Shrewsbury is set to fly the flag in style next summer as part of patriotic celebrations to mark the arrival of the Olympic torch and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
The town centre will be decked out with dozens of Union Jack flags and red, white and blue bunting in a bid to create a carnival atmosphere on the streets if plans by Shrewsbury Town Council become reality.
The Olympic torch will travel through the town on May 30 and celebrations for the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation will run over an extended weekend from June 2 to 5.
And organisers are keen to celebrate both events in large numbers. The idea was suggested at a town council meeting by leader Peter Nutting, who said the proximity of the two events offered an ideal opportunity.
He said the authority could offer support to any organisations planning to put on events to mark the arrival of the Olympic flame.
“About the same time of year is the jubilee, so we might want to think if we could do something for both,” he said. “For example, there could be Union Jack flags to cover the period for both.”
The idea was backed by councillor Jackie Brennand, who is chairman of Shrewsbury in Bloom. She said flags could be put up in town in the spaces occupied by the miniature Christmas trees that are dotted around Shrewsbury, an idea she said had already been discussed by the Bloom committee.
Councillor Nutting said the town council should tell organisations wanting to organise Olympic torch events that there is a possibility of funding through the authority’s general grants fund. He said: “We aren’t throwing money around. But there is some money for things if schools want to do bunting.”
The Olympic torch is due to stop off in Shrewsbury next year.
On May 24, it will pass through Ludlow, Clee Hill and Cleobury Mortimer. It will return to the county on May 30 when it will pass through Oswestry, Pant and Llanymynech before reaching Shrewsbury.
The torch will then continue on to Cressage, Much Wenlock, Benthall, Broseley, Ironbridge, Telford Town Centre and Newport.
Are you going to be celebrating the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee next year?
If you are, then why not buy your flags, hand flags and bunting from www.worldflagshop.com? All available from stock now!
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