Dorset flag flying above HQ of the Department for Communities and Local Government in London

HERITAGE: The Dorset flag at the DCLG HQ HERITAGE: The Dorset flag at the DCLG HQ

THE Dorset flag is flying in the heart of London.

The red, white, and gold standard has been seen for a week hoisted above the HQ of the Department for Communities and Local Government in Victoria.

Secretary of State, Eric Pickles MP, is flying each of the nation’s county flags for a week to show their importance to the nation’s heritage.

Chris Brown, Wimborne Minster’s town crier and a driving force behind the Dorset flag, said he was delighted that it was being flow in the capital.

“I think it’s fantastic. It shows the arrival of the Dorset flag into everybody’s consciousness. Simply put, it’s a great thing to have.

“It’s good to show a bit of regional pride, which is something I see a lot in other countries. The German towns all have a flag, and some the French departments.”

“We knew we were answering a need. As town criers, my colleagues and I had been asked countless times if there was a county flag.”

Its red, white, and gold colours feature on the flags of a number of councils across Dorset, and in the standard of the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service.

The gold – drawn from Dorset’s Saxon roots when a golden dragon represented the kingdom of Wessex, and symbolising the county’s cornfields and sandy beaches – was popular with citizens and sailors, said Chris.

“It’s a proper design, well thought-out, and has clearly has caught the mood of the people. They love the golden field. I was chatting to some sailors and they said the flag was visible at sea,” said Chris.

Cllr Angus Campbell, leader of Dorset County Council, said he was proud that the flag had been flown outside DCLG HQ.

“Dorset is an ancient county with a proud historical heritage. It is no surprise that Dorset folk have a distinctive pride in their identity and an instinctive love for their county.”

Comments(17)

Azphreal says...
8:04am Sat 6 Nov 10

So who actually created it and how long has it been Dorsets flag?

Was Charlie says...
8:22am Sat 6 Nov 10

In 2008 people were invited to submit a design. 29 did. 4 were shortlisted and people voted for their choice through ballot boxes in the county’s libraries. The winner was Dave White of Dorchester and the flag went into production.

There are several articles on Dorset’s flag – use the search box at the top right of any Echo page to find them.

Roginthesouth says...
8:37am Sat 6 Nov 10

Was Charlie wrote:
In 2008 people were invited to submit a design. 29 did. 4 were shortlisted and people voted for their choice through ballot boxes in the county’s libraries. The winner was Dave White of Dorchester and the flag went into production. There are several articles on Dorset’s flag – use the search box at the top right of any Echo page to find them.
The end result is excellent and reflects the character of the county as stated in the report.
It’s a pity the same cost effective approach wasn’t taken with the 2012 Olympic logo.. Apologies for digressing, but it still looks as bad as the first day I saw it….

4FCB says...
9:17am Sat 6 Nov 10

How fabulous. I just wish more businesses and homeowners around our wonderful county would take the time and trouble to fly the flag. 

kathryn1 says...
9:24am Sat 6 Nov 10

How we got the Dorset flag:

http://dorsetflag.we
bs.com/aboutus.htm

Lucky we got one, or there'd just be an empty space outside the Ministry on 'our' weeks.

Roginthesouth, I agree about the 2012 Olympic logo. It's printed all over my latest debit card, and the bank couldn't supply one without it. I wouldn't use the card as it was, given what the logo resembles even, as you say, after all this time. Luckily a DVD marker obliterated it without affecting the card's functioning.

MJD says...
9:26am Sat 6 Nov 10

So has any one yet found out were the Poole borough flag has gone ?

Mickeypat says...
10:15am Sat 6 Nov 10

I'm clearly on my own thinking the Dorset flag is horrid! Where do we ever think that Yellow White and Red go together!!! I'm no Gok Wong but that is just plain awful. Black and Gold yes, even Red Black and Gold but not these colours. I think the severe lack of advertising the fact we were having a flag has been hugely detremental to Dorset. I agree with the bits on the Olympic logo though. Still looks horrid!

tonyrichards1 says...
10:36am Sat 6 Nov 10

What a load of cobblers

free wessex says...
10:42am Sat 6 Nov 10

Mickeypat wrote:
I'm clearly on my own thinking the Dorset flag is horrid! Where do we ever think that Yellow White and Red go together!!! I'm no Gok Wong but that is just plain awful. Black and Gold yes, even Red Black and Gold but not these colours. I think the severe lack of advertising the fact we were having a flag has been hugely detremental to Dorset. I agree with the bits on the Olympic logo though. Still looks horrid!
Yellow for Golden Cap near Charmouth, Red in honour of England St Geaorge, white St Wite Saint associated with Whitchurch Canonicorum

Mickeypat says...
11:22am Sat 6 Nov 10

free wessex; thanks for that but it still looks disgusting!

Phixer says...
1:48pm Sat 6 Nov 10

4FCB wrote:
How fabulous. I just wish more businesses and homeowners around our wonderful county would take the time and trouble to fly the flag. 
The local council would not permit us to fly the Dorset County flag or the Union flag from our homes - it would upset our immigrants!

ray142 says...
5:23pm Sat 6 Nov 10

Unless it can be whinged about or otherwise ridiculed its hard to must enthusiasm about anything around here. If you really want to see a county flag working, with everybody proud to fly it, pop down to Cornwall and see how many blackflags/white crosses you see.

CoogarUK.com says...
7:29pm Sat 6 Nov 10

Given what has happened to local democracy recently, I feel the flag should be flying at half mast.

Council Watcher says...
8:14pm Sat 6 Nov 10

Its about time this country became more patriotic and flew the national and Dorset flags on public buildings and companies should also get in on the act as they do in most foreign countries that I have visited.

TheDistrict says...
11:59pm Sat 6 Nov 10

Mickeypat wrote:
I'm clearly on my own thinking the Dorset flag is horrid! Where do we ever think that Yellow White and Red go together!!! I'm no Gok Wong but that is just plain awful. Black and Gold yes, even Red Black and Gold but not these colours. I think the severe lack of advertising the fact we were having a flag has been hugely detremental to Dorset. I agree with the bits on the Olympic logo though. Still looks horrid!
It was advertised for ages, both in the media, it had its own website, and much more.
.
Regardless of what Councils may think, we fly ours with pride on occasions, as we do with the St Georges Flag, the Union Flag, Armed Forces Day Flag, and any blooming flag I want to.

muskatoon says...
11:47pm Sun 7 Nov 10

Couple of points, the flag was not Dave White's on his own there were a lot of people involved in promoting it and getting it out there. We had significant sponsorship from Businesses in Wimborne to get it off the ground.

The design conforms to The Flag Institute and heraldic rules which are logical if you have time to read them. However the Devon and Wiltshire flags for example do not.

We were never going to please everyone with this Mickypat but we know it is being flown in USA, Canada, Australia, NZ, Afghanistan, Iraq, Spain by ex-pats and serving forces. If it helps people connect with the home they love then that has to be a good thing.

The colours were also those of the very first Dorset Regiment, which to me is as good a foundation as you can get.

I am with ray142 that this is a strange land inhabited by whingers, i'll get me coat ..... ;-)

Dorsetdogdelights says...
6:26pm Thu 11 Nov 10

4FCB wrote:
How fabulous. I just wish more businesses and homeowners around our wonderful county would take the time and trouble to fly the flag. 
Personaly I love the flag and i enjoyed following its progress from the start.
We are a small local Business "Dorset Dog Delights" and whenever we are at dog shows or camps the Dorset flag is flying over our stall. We have even incorporated the flag into our flyers and banners.

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