Union Flag breaks world record

The only surviving Union flag from the battle of Trafalgar has been sold for an eye watering £384,000 - nearly forty times its estimate.

The Union flag is covered in holes from shot damage and still has a slight smell of gunpowder from the battle. It is known that the flag was flown from the Jackstaff of HMS Spartiate at the historic battle 204 years ago.

The flag was presented to Lieutenant James Clephan for his outstanding performance after defeating Napoleon's French army.

The 11ft by 7ft flag was handed down through the generations of the Clephan family and was kept in a darkened drawer to help preserve it.

After being given a pre-sale estimate of just £10,000 the hammer dropped on an enormous £384,000 to an anonymous bidder. This is thought to be the most expensive Union flag ever and one of the most expensive flags ever to be auctioned.

A quote from Charles Miller Auctions says "It is way above anyone's expectations but does reflect the historical importance of the flag and the battle it fluttered away in 204 years ago"

The flag is made up of 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.

The flag is one of the most important, historical items any collector could expect to handle. The damage is probably from bullet or splinter fragments, but despite all of this and being over 200 years old it is in amazing condition. You can even detect the smell of gunpowder in it.

Giant Flag shows support for Leicester's World Cup Bid

On Saturday 8th August 09 Leicester City's fans took to their seats twenty minutes early to show their support for Leicester's bid to become a host city for the 2018 World Cup Finals in England.

Passing around a giant "We're backing the bid" flag (supplied by FlagsandFlagpoles.co.uk) and a great turnout from the fans, proved to be an impressive show of support which will show the FA how much we want to bring the FIFA World Cup to Leicester in 2018.

Leicester will find out in December, if it has been chosen as one of the host cities that will form part of England's bid to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

For more information and to back Leicester's World cup host city bid please visit www.backleicesterbid.com.

The Human Flag

67 year old pensioner Guiness Rishi plans to get tatooed from head to toe with the flag of every country.

Mr Rishi from Delhi in India will need £12,500 and approximately three years to be covered in all 220 national flags, but he is well on his way after already having six flags tatooed on his face including the Union Flag and the American stars and stripes.

Flagpole terminology

Are you a complete novice when it comes to Flagpoles? Here are a few keywords and definitions that you might come across.

Finial - The decorative "top" affixed to a flagpole - usually mushroom shaped, onion shaped or round, white or gold.

Halyard - The rope used to hoist the flag to the top of the pole.

Cleat - Where the halyard rope is tied off to keep the flag hoisted.

Ground Sleeve - The sleeve that the pole slots into when erecting a standard flagpole.

Hinged base plate - The base plate used with a single piece pole. It has a hinge on one edge of the base plate to allow for easy maintenance and installation.

Rotating arm - A metal arm at the top of the pole which keeps the flag taught at all times. Normally used for portrait flags.

Installing a Value Flagpole

Just a quick guide on how to install one of our value flagpoles:

Each set includes:

• White plastic finial with integrated halyard guide,
• Solid braided 10.5m polypropylene halyard,
• Two cast nylon flag clips,
• Rope cleat with two screws,
• PVC Ground sleeve,
• *Pole sections with 50mm outer diameter aluminium pole.

Assembly

Slide pole sections together, with the swagged ends extending upwards into the next section. The top section will always be the un-swagged section. The bottom section will always be a swagged section drilled for the cleat. The remaining sections complete the flagpole. Attach the cleat using the self-tapping screws supplied.
Attach the finial to the top section. Thread the rope halyard through the guide in the finial, clip each flag into place at the end of the halyard.
To fly your flag, attach each clip into the eyelet/D-ring of the flag to form a continuous loop. When not flying a flag, clip the 2 clips together.

Construction/Assembly

Prepare a hole in the ground 650mm deep and 650mm wide sq.
Fill bottom with gravel and sand to a depth of 150mm. Place PVC ground sleeve into hole, the pour concrete into the hole around the sleeve to within 25-40mm of top. Be careful to keep the inside of the sleeve clean and free of concrete. Re-plumb setting tube before concrete sets, by temporarily inserting bottom section of pole and plumbing it inside the sleeve. Allow concrete to cure for 24 hours before installing the flagpole.

Flag Flying conditions

In winds exceeding 35 mph (Beaufort force 7), flags should be taken down. Remember that if it is windy at ground level it is much worse at the top of the flagstaff. Heavy rain will increase the weight of the flag which will cause unnecessary wear, especially in high winds.

For more information information regarding flagpole installation please visit our website www.flagsandflagpoles.co.uk or call 01509 50 11 80.

Flag Flying Days 2009

We have compiled a list of Flag Flying days for 2009 so you don't miss that special national ocassion.

Flag Flying Days

Australia Day - January 26th

Accession of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II - February 6th

New Zealand Commonwealth Day - February 8th

Birthday of Prince Andrew - February 19th

St David's Day - March 1st

Commonwealth Day - 2nd Sunday in March

Birthday of Prince Edward - March 10th

St Patrick's Day - March 17th

Birthday of Queen Elizabeth II - April 21st

St Georges Day - April 23rd

Europa Day- May 5th

Coronation Day - June 2nd

Birthday of the duke of Edinburgh - June 10th

Official Birthday of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II - June 12th

Birthday of Prince William - June 21st

Canadian Dominion Day - July 1st

Birthday of princess Anne - August 15th

Birthday of Prince Henry - September 15th

Trafalgar Day - October 21st

United nations day - October 24th

Rememberance day - November 11th

Birthday of Prince of Wales - November 14th

Wedding of H.M. Queen Elizabeth II - November 20th

St Andrews Day - November 30th

For more information on Flag Flying days or other Flag and Flagpole related enquiries please visit our website www.flagsandflagpoles.co.uk.

Flag and Flagpole terminology

Rope & Toggle - The traditional way of finishing a Flag. Consists of a wooden toggle at the top of the Flag and a length of rope at the bottom.

Applique - A Sewn woven Flag.

Anti Fray - A piece of heavy duty Nylon netting sewn onto the edge of a flag to protect it.

Badge - A coat of arms or simple heraldic symbol, such as a shield.

Canton - Any quarter of a Flag, but commonly means the upper.

Charge - A figure or symbol appearing in the field of a flag.

Emblem - A device often used as a charge (see above) on a flag.

Field - The background of a Flag

Fimbriation - A narrow edging or border, often in white or gold, on a flag to separate two other colours.

Fly - The half or edge of a flag furthest away from the flagpole. This term also refers to the horizontal length of a Flag.

Length - The span of a Flag along the side at right angles to the flagpole.

Width - The span of a Flag down the side parallel to the flagpole.

Half staff/Half mast - A style of flag display in which the flag is flown at half of the potential height of the available flag pole.

Distress - Flying the flag upside down.

Vexillological Symbol - Used to indicate certain characteristics of national flags, such as where they are used, who uses them, and what they look like.