UK Flag Institute Spring Meeting 2010: Part I

In 2010 the UK Flag Institute held its Spring Meeting in Mayfair, London at the Naval Club. I was gracious enough to speak about my vexillological flag symmetry concept. May 15, 2010 was a lovely day for London, blue skies, sunshine, and pleasant weather.

Lt. Colonel Weekes
The first speaker was Lt. Colonel Nick Weekes, AE MA FFI. He served in the regular army for 30 years and followed up with a 13 year duty in the reserve Air Force. He is also a member of the Flag Institute Council. His presentation was titled 'Report from England's Front Line.' It was a study of flags along the coast of England towards the European Continent focused on the coastal districts of Dover, Sandwich, and Deal.

Weekes conveyed that the specific protocols of hanging the UK flag are often incorrect. Most lay persons probably would not notice the inconsistencies and improper display of national flags. However to the refined eye of a vexillologist the minutia of flag protocol is still inconsistent.

One thing I learned is that National Flags of the Royal Navy flying on land should point towards the main entrance of a building.

The Original
'PORT AUTHORITY FLAG'
The Cinque Ports Flag of was one of the many flags discussed. This flag represents a confederation of what used to be five important seaports that were given certain tax privileges because of their location and link towards the continent.

These intercontinental ports were supposed to muster sailors in defense of England. Eventually the originally five 'port authorities' were linked up with 30 other coastal towns and became the core hatchery of naval personnel. The original Cinque Ports five were: Dover, Hythe, Hastings, New Romney, and Sandwich.

To learn more about the UK Flag Institute Here:
www.flaginstitue.org