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Help design a flag for Hampshire
8:23am Friday 29th August 2008
Comments (74)
By Peter Law »
THEY instil pride, are a symbol of identity and are flown at sports events and in gardens across Britain. Yet many people living in Hampshire would be surprised to learn the county does not have its own flag.
Today, the Daily Echo is inviting creative residents to come up with their own design for a new flag of Hampshire that could be adopted by the county.
It would be a people's flag that could be flown anytime and anywhere and chosen by a public vote.
The region's tourism experts last night said a new flag would help boost the county's national and international profile.
The Flag Institute - a national body which registers official flags - has given its support to the plan and confirmed Hampshire does not have its own flag.
Flag competitions are a new phenomenon and many of our neighbouring counties have recently unfurled a new flag or are in the midst of selecting one.
Graham Bartram, chief vexillologist at the Flag Registry, said: "A lot of the southern counties now have their own flags so it would seem Hampshire really needs to pull its finger out.
"County flags are a reasonably new concept and the only reason Hampshire doesn't have one is because they haven't selected one."
To get your imagination flowing, the Echo has drawn up its own designs. Our ideas include incorporating the famous watercress leaf, symbolising the rural nature of this magnificent county on a red and yellow cross, the colours of Hampshire, and the anchor on a blue background represents our port heritage...
The Dorset public has until next month to vote for its favourite flag from a shortlist of four selected following a competition.
The Isle of Wight recently launched a search for a flag, while Wiltshire last year adopted a green and white flag with a great bustard.
Devon, Gloucestershire, Derbyshire and Lincolnshire have all chosen new flags in the past six years in popular votes.
They are now flown proudly flown at sports events, county celebrations, outside town halls and feature on souvenirs such as bumper stickers, badges and magnets.
Tourism South East's head of marketing Karen Roebuck welcomed the call for a flag of Hampshire. "It is sometimes difficult to differentiate the counties in South East England," she said.
"A county flag could support a local identity incorporating the multi facets of the county crossing sport, the arts, heritage, education and local food.
"A flag could reinforce a sense of identity which gives more of a hook to encourage the visitor both local and from further afield."
Mr Bartram said flags could help give a county a sense of identity that has been eroded with the formation of unitary authorities such as Southampton and Portsmouth city councils.
"People want a more local sense of identity. The new county flags are certainly being used for tourism and are another way of representing the area," he said.
Hampshire County Council has two flags, however they represent the council and therefore can only be used by them.
In 1992, a red and yellow design based on the county's coat of arms was unveiled to mark the county's centenary. The flag is flown on formal occasions.
A blue flag based on the council's corporate logo has been used since 2002 and is flown at the council's offices daily.
Any new flag of Hampshire would have to be unique in Britain, not subject to copyright and selected by a public vote or approved by the county council.
Mr Bartram said the key to a good flag was that it had a simple design, was representative of the region and adopted by its people.
"Council flags are basically banners with a coat of arms and the problem is that if you asked local children to draw the coat of arms they wouldn't be able to and that is not what we want for a flag."
Mr Batram said one of the challenges when designing a flag was creating something truly representative of the whole county.
"I wouldn't recommend using the crescent and star of Portsmouth, or the three roses of Southampton - maybe you need to use red, white and blue as that represents both cities. It's a matter of coming up with something for the entire county."
Your Say YourEcho
Wewullywinky, says...
9:44am Fri 29 Aug 08
gorf, soton says...
9:52am Fri 29 Aug 08
or the red rose as worn by cubs/scouts/brownies
/guides etc on their uniform?
Andy, Locks Heath says...
10:05am Fri 29 Aug 08
gorf wrote:Agreed. Good suggestion.
how about the coat of arms?
or the red rose as worn by cubs/scouts/brownies
/guides etc on their uniform?
General Malaise, Nearby says...
10:50am Fri 29 Aug 08
gorf wrote:Lancashire is known as the county of the Red Rose, so that wouldn't work for Hampshire.
how about the coat of arms? or the red rose as worn by cubs/scouts/brownies /guides etc on their uniform?
southy, redbridge says...
10:53am Fri 29 Aug 08
reason winchester was the old captital of england and wessex and there's alfred the great.
Clive, Southampton says...
10:57am Fri 29 Aug 08
Andy, Locks Heath says...
11:26am Fri 29 Aug 08
General Malaise wrote:That's true, but Hampshire is just as entitled to use a red rose as part of its own emblem, and our Coat of Arms is quite distinctive and more relevant to Hampshire than a randomly coloured cross on a randomly coloured background like most of the other efforts. Of course we'll have to add a crescent moon and some green somewhere to avoid giving offence.
gorf wrote:Lancashire is known as the county of the Red Rose, so that wouldn\'t work for Hampshire.
how about the coat of arms? or the red rose as worn by cubs/scouts/brownies /guides etc on their uniform?
southy, redbridge says...
11:34am Fri 29 Aug 08
Christoff, says...
11:38am Fri 29 Aug 08
southy wrote:it would look too Welsh
there's really only one flag that could fly for hampshire.red field with a yellow dragon. reason winchester was the old captital of england and wessex and there's alfred the great.
southy, redbridge says...
11:45am Fri 29 Aug 08
Christoff, says...
11:45am Fri 29 Aug 08
Andy wrote:yes, must not forget to include our ethnic friends.
General Malaise wrote:That's true, but Hampshire is just as entitled to use a red rose as part of its own emblem, and our Coat of Arms is quite distinctive and more relevant to Hampshire than a randomly coloured cross on a randomly coloured background like most of the other efforts. Of course we'll have to add a crescent moon and some green somewhere to avoid giving offence.gorf wrote: how about the coat of arms? or the red rose as worn by cubs/scouts/brownies /guides etc on their uniform?Lancashire is known as the county of the Red Rose, so that wouldn\'t work for Hampshire.
Southy seems pretty keen on his dragon too so we are going to have one busy coat of arms
Christoff, says...
11:46am Fri 29 Aug 08
southy wrote:I meant the Dragon
welsh flag has 3 colours,the old wessex banner only has 2 colours
SCSI, says...
11:52am Fri 29 Aug 08
This is a symbol of Wessex, not specific to Hampshire. The Hog, silly or not, is much more relevant to the county of Hampshire. The red and white rose of Hamshire should be the symbol as used by the county council (from the Southampton crest).
Christoff, says...
11:57am Fri 29 Aug 08
SCSI wrote:Isn't it the British Army that use the Wyvern for Wessex? I think everyone else uses a Dragon
For those talking about a 'dragon' as Wessex symbol it's not, it's a Wyvern (without legs and with a serpernts tail). This is a symbol of Wessex, not specific to Hampshire. The Hog, silly or not, is much more relevant to the county of Hampshire. The red and white rose of Hamshire should be the symbol as used by the county council (from the Southampton crest).
southy, redbridge says...
12:01pm Fri 29 Aug 08
SCSI, says...
12:03pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Christoff wrote:If they do they're wrong! ;-)
SCSI wrote: For those talking about a 'dragon' as Wessex symbol it's not, it's a Wyvern (without legs and with a serpernts tail). This is a symbol of Wessex, not specific to Hampshire. The Hog, silly or not, is much more relevant to the county of Hampshire. The red and white rose of Hamshire should be the symbol as used by the county council (from the Southampton crest).Isn't it the British Army that use the Wyvern for Wessex? I think everyone else uses a Dragon
Wessex society, etc, use the Wyvern as is the traditional symbol of Wessex. There's a good reason why the Army use a Wyvern don't you think? ;-)
southy, redbridge says...
12:06pm Fri 29 Aug 08
southy, redbridge says...
12:11pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Mental Mickey, Tatchbury says...
12:33pm Fri 29 Aug 08
southy, redbridge says...
12:39pm Fri 29 Aug 08
HedgeEnder, E1 says...
1:09pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Shazza, says...
1:15pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Hugh Carres, says...
1:21pm Fri 29 Aug 08
bollockstothemall, 'ampshire says...
1:28pm Fri 29 Aug 08
southy, redbridge says...
1:31pm Fri 29 Aug 08
bollockstothemall wrote:i all ready pointed it out that hog is shorter word for hoggin maening pathway or track
Hog?
Steve, says...
1:33pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Why is it that English counties are now looking for their own flags? I blame Cornwall but at least they have a flag because their history is not English and were of a different race but whats Devon's excuse for wanting a flag? The Cornish have one so we want one and Wiltshire, Gloucester and Dorset etc have got in on the act.
It's a gimmick that achieves no end, why can't people be secure enough in their own skin without feeling the need to wrap themselves in a pseudo identity supplied by a made up flag, proposed only because everyone else seems to have one - my, what a mature society we've become.
What happens when the New Forest wants it's own flag and why stop there lets take it down to town level and then every street should have it's own rallying banner - it really is a nonsense.
Hampshire's part of England with it's own flag isn't it? Why is that not deemed good enough anymore, these people rushing off to design a flag would be better served finding out about the current flags of Britain and what they mean rather than try to invent a new meaningless one.
For instance the Welsh flag is the oldest known national flag in existence and would be the flag of England now if it were not for countless invasions, where did the st.Georges cross and the three lions come from, it would serve people better if they knew and understood all this before talking such nonsense about a new (as opposed to our old one) flag for Hampshire.
Ian Hoolihan, says...
1:39pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Steve wrote:not keen on the idea then?
What a load of old tosh... Why is it that English counties are now looking for their own flags? I blame Cornwall but at least they have a flag because their history is not English and were of a different race but whats Devon's excuse for wanting a flag? The Cornish have one so we want one and Wiltshire, Gloucester and Dorset etc have got in on the act. It's a gimmick that achieves no end, why can't people be secure enough in their own skin without feeling the need to wrap themselves in a pseudo identity supplied by a made up flag, proposed only because everyone else seems to have one - my, what a mature society we've become. What happens when the New Forest wants it's own flag and why stop there lets take it down to town level and then every street should have it's own rallying banner - it really is a nonsense. Hampshire's part of England with it's own flag isn't it? Why is that not deemed good enough anymore, these people rushing off to design a flag would be better served finding out about the current flags of Britain and what they mean rather than try to invent a new meaningless one. For instance the Welsh flag is the oldest known national flag in existence and would be the flag of England now if it were not for countless invasions, where did the st.Georges cross and the three lions come from, it would serve people better if they knew and understood all this before talking such nonsense about a new (as opposed to our old one) flag for Hampshire.
Charles Wayman, Southampton says...
1:46pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Or an image of an ice rink with a cross through it.
Steve, says...
1:58pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Ian Hoolihan wrote:No, not really. Does it show? ;-)
Steve wrote: What a load of old tosh... Why is it that English counties are now looking for their own flags? I blame Cornwall but at least they have a flag because their history is not English and were of a different race but whats Devon's excuse for wanting a flag? The Cornish have one so we want one and Wiltshire, Gloucester and Dorset etc have got in on the act. It's a gimmick that achieves no end, why can't people be secure enough in their own skin without feeling the need to wrap themselves in a pseudo identity supplied by a made up flag, proposed only because everyone else seems to have one - my, what a mature society we've become. What happens when the New Forest wants it's own flag and why stop there lets take it down to town level and then every street should have it's own rallying banner - it really is a nonsense. Hampshire's part of England with it's own flag isn't it? Why is that not deemed good enough anymore, these people rushing off to design a flag would be better served finding out about the current flags of Britain and what they mean rather than try to invent a new meaningless one. For instance the Welsh flag is the oldest known national flag in existence and would be the flag of England now if it were not for countless invasions, where did the st.Georges cross and the three lions come from, it would serve people better if they knew and understood all this before talking such nonsense about a new (as opposed to our old one) flag for Hampshire.not keen on the idea then?
Ian Hoolihan, says...
2:41pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Steve wrote:Not at all, I was thinking, this guy is clearly 50/50
Ian Hoolihan wrote:No, not really. Does it show? ;-)Steve wrote: What a load of old tosh... Why is it that English counties are now looking for their own flags? I blame Cornwall but at least they have a flag because their history is not English and were of a different race but whats Devon's excuse for wanting a flag? The Cornish have one so we want one and Wiltshire, Gloucester and Dorset etc have got in on the act. It's a gimmick that achieves no end, why can't people be secure enough in their own skin without feeling the need to wrap themselves in a pseudo identity supplied by a made up flag, proposed only because everyone else seems to have one - my, what a mature society we've become. What happens when the New Forest wants it's own flag and why stop there lets take it down to town level and then every street should have it's own rallying banner - it really is a nonsense. Hampshire's part of England with it's own flag isn't it? Why is that not deemed good enough anymore, these people rushing off to design a flag would be better served finding out about the current flags of Britain and what they mean rather than try to invent a new meaningless one. For instance the Welsh flag is the oldest known national flag in existence and would be the flag of England now if it were not for countless invasions, where did the st.Georges cross and the three lions come from, it would serve people better if they knew and understood all this before talking such nonsense about a new (as opposed to our old one) flag for Hampshire.not keen on the idea then?
obelisker, southampton says...
4:41pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Plum Pudding, Swamptown says...
5:12pm Fri 29 Aug 08
The crescent and star in the upper left corner with a burberry background and a hog rampant in the middle!
N/A, says...
6:48pm Fri 29 Aug 08
What a complete waste of money. I wonder if we can get a refund on some our tax if we disagree. If we bought a meal and didn't like it we'd get our money back. Having said that, we wouldn't enter the resteraunt in the first place if we didn't want to eat.
In this case, I don't want to eat. Keep my money out of it.
Dave, Portsmouth says...
6:52pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Christoff wrote:"Ethnic friends"?Isn't that a quasi racist comment? Besides, Portsmouth's coat of arms has included ever since Richard I's time the Islamic crescent, so that would be entirely appropriate, given its importance as the greatest city in the country.
Andy wrote:yes, must not forget to include our ethnic friends.
General Malaise wrote:That\'s true, but Hampshire is just as entitled to use a red rose as part of its own emblem, and our Coat of Arms is quite distinctive and more relevant to Hampshire than a randomly coloured cross on a randomly coloured background like most of the other efforts. Of course we\'ll have to add a crescent moon and some green somewhere to avoid giving offence.gorf wrote: how about the coat of arms? or the red rose as worn by cubs/scouts/brownies /guides etc on their uniform?Lancashire is known as the county of the Red Rose, so that wouldn\\\'t work for Hampshire.
Southy seems pretty keen on his dragon too so we are going to have one busy coat of arms
Anon, Southampton says...
7:01pm Fri 29 Aug 08
2012 Olympic logo anyone?
New Southampton University logo/lettering?
Emblem, southampton says...
7:14pm Fri 29 Aug 08
ex so'ton, Abingdon says...
7:33pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Steve, Wiltshire says...
7:35pm Fri 29 Aug 08
As for King Alfred - he was neither born or died in Hampshire, he hid in Somerset and had his greatest battle in Wilsthire. England as a country didn't exist until his grandson's reigh and that momentous event took place in Bath a short while after Edgar was rowed up the River Dee by lesser Kings. I always laugh when I see King Alfred's statue in Winchester -there is one in Wantage and that is where Alfred would have chosen.
Flag for Hants should have a pig coupled with green for the countryside and blue for the sea. I like the Wiltshire flag and it didn't cost a bean - infact they sell them at a profit from the tourist information centres here.
Denzil, Chilworth says...
7:53pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Christoff, says...
8:19pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Dave wrote:no it isn't a quasi racist comment...go search somehere else for a racist
Christoff wrote:"Ethnic friends"?Isn't that a quasi racist comment? Besides, Portsmouth's coat of arms has included ever since Richard I's time the Islamic crescent, so that would be entirely appropriate, given its importance as the greatest city in the country.Andy wrote:yes, must not forget to include our ethnic friends. Southy seems pretty keen on his dragon too so we are going to have one busy coat of armsGeneral Malaise wrote:That\'s true, but Hampshire is just as entitled to use a red rose as part of its own emblem, and our Coat of Arms is quite distinctive and more relevant to Hampshire than a randomly coloured cross on a randomly coloured background like most of the other efforts. Of course we\'ll have to add a crescent moon and some green somewhere to avoid giving offence.gorf wrote: how about the coat of arms? or the red rose as worn by cubs/scouts/brownies /guides etc on their uniform?Lancashire is known as the county of the Red Rose, so that wouldn\\\'t work for Hampshire.
Wintonian, southampton says...
8:42pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Anywhere but Southy, southampton says...
8:47pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Artful Dodger, Millbrook says...
8:57pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Andy wrote:The red rose featured on cub and scout badges is not the Lancashire rose, it is the Tudor Rose.
General Malaise wrote:That's true, but Hampshire is just as entitled to use a red rose as part of its own emblem, and our Coat of Arms is quite distinctive and more relevant to Hampshire than a randomly coloured cross on a randomly coloured background like most of the other efforts. Of course we'll have to add a crescent moon and some green somewhere to avoid giving offence.gorf wrote: how about the coat of arms? or the red rose as worn by cubs/scouts/brownies /guides etc on their uniform?Lancashire is known as the county of the Red Rose, so that wouldn\'t work for Hampshire.
Simply Red, Woolston says...
9:02pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Denzil wrote:After your insensitive comments about the Mick Channon car crash yesterday, I would have thought that you would have kept a low profile for a while.
What about a chavvy teenage mum cashing a giro with a bottle of cider in the otherhand and a crackpipe in her pocket.
Low profile for a low-life.
deltastar, sussex says...
9:21pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Anyway Hampshire already has a crest, so why not put that on the flag?
sausage monkey, says...
9:51pm Fri 29 Aug 08
SCSI wrote:Yeah but a Wyvern is from the dragon family. Just like a lion, tiger and a fury haired flea ridden bitten puty cat are from the same family.
For those talking about a 'dragon' as Wessex symbol it's not, it's a Wyvern (without legs and with a serpernts tail). This is a symbol of Wessex, not specific to Hampshire. The Hog, silly or not, is much more relevant to the county of Hampshire. The red and white rose of Hamshire should be the symbol as used by the county council (from the Southampton crest).
southy, redbridge says...
11:14pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Anywhere but Southy wrote:your right in a way your version is the general view of where the name comes from,but there is an older version and that it came from the area known has the hog or hoggin,s,this was a track that went from romsey to andover with its many pathways and track crossings,there is also another area known has the hog back track now a major road,both areas was known by those names before hampshire or hamptonshire was formed.
Southy - not often are you right, and yes you are wrong again. Hampshire Hog - 1790 dictionary. Hampshire Hog - jocular description of Hampshire man - after the famous breed of bacon pig bred in that county !
southy, redbridge says...
11:26pm Fri 29 Aug 08
Wintonian wrote:born in wantage berkshire crowned king in winchester died of ill health (location of his death is unknown)and was buried in Hyde chapel winchester
What is that daft "moonraker" on about- King Alfred was buried in Hyde - Winchester.
George St Cross, says...
12:27am Sat 30 Aug 08
Well said, Steve, but if we all displayed Union Jack, how long would it be before the PC Brigade objected on the grounds of racism?
We are not taught to respect, or indeed, be proud of being British. So why bother at a local level? In fact, we should be sticking together not putting up further barriers to induce ill feeling between Counties.
It's bad enough reading comments on here between Southampton and Portsmouth bods, let alone escalating it to a County level. Then again, both City's would be lumped together under the same banner, could it possibly bring them closer together? Sadly, I think not.
southy, redbridge says...
12:37am Sat 30 Aug 08
George St Cross Well said, Steve, but if we all displayed Union Jack,
it called a union flag not union jack, the jack is the flag staff on the bow of a ship
southy, westy, northy, easty, any way the wind blows down the solent and up yer bum while sitting on a sandbar picking a bogey, says...
2:01am Sat 30 Aug 08
southy wrote:I have to admit a grudging respect for you. You are a one-person, 100% success rate , cast iron, guaranteed - or - a - full - refund, WONDER CURE for insomnia.
Anywhere but Southy wrote:your right in a way your version is the general view of where the name comes from,but there is an older version and that it came from the area known has the hog or hoggin,s,this was a track that went from romsey to andover with its many pathways and track crossings,there is also another area known has the hog back track now a major road,both areas was known by those names before hampshire or hamptonshire was formed.
Southy - not often are you right, and yes you are wrong again. Hampshire Hog - 1790 dictionary. Hampshire Hog - jocular description of Hampshire man - after the famous breed of bacon pig bred in that county !
What we actually need is a flag with a blue background and in its center a small black square and within that square a nice, neat white painted picket fence. Then, I could sit on the Sitting Fence and wave my Sitting Fence flag 50% to the left and 50% to the right
Brian, says...
6:56am Sat 30 Aug 08
George St Cross wrote:What is 'being British' ?
\"Hampshire\'s part of England with it\'s own flag isn\'t it? Why is that not deemed good enough anymore, these people rushing off to design a flag would be better served finding out about the current flags of Britain and what they mean rather than try to invent a new meaningless one.\" Well said, Steve, but if we all displayed Union Jack, how long would it be before the PC Brigade objected on the grounds of racism? We are not taught to respect, or indeed, be proud of being British. So why bother at a local level? In fact, we should be sticking together not putting up further barriers to induce ill feeling between Counties. It\'s bad enough reading comments on here between Southampton and Portsmouth bods, let alone escalating it to a County level. Then again, both City\'s would be lumped together under the same banner, could it possibly bring them closer together? Sadly, I think not.
How is the Union Flag rascist? the Union flag represents the United Kingdom of Scotland , England and Wales, wheresas the Cross of St George singles out England.If there was such thing as a PC brigade surely they would go after the George Cross. Thats the one all the knobheads from the BNP wave.
Forest hump, Forest says...
8:03am Sat 30 Aug 08
Denzil wrote:Classic, I'm still laughing
What about a chavvy teenage mum cashing a giro with a bottle of cider in the otherhand and a crackpipe in her pocket.
King Mush, Woolston says...
4:19pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Forest hump wrote:Agree - Denzil is sometimes bang on.
Denzil wrote: What about a chavvy teenage mum cashing a giro with a bottle of cider in the otherhand and a crackpipe in her pocket.Classic, I\'m still laughing
Makes a change from the historians
He beat me to it though - I must get up earlier
George St Cross, says...
5:41pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Brian wrote:My views have nothing to do with the BNP. To me, being British is about respecting (or at least accepting, in some cases)the customs and laws of this country - as opposed to trying to change them to something resembling the culture of another land. When in Rome and all that!
George St Cross wrote: \"Hampshire\'s part of England with it\'s own flag isn\'t it? Why is that not deemed good enough anymore, these people rushing off to design a flag would be better served finding out about the current flags of Britain and what they mean rather than try to invent a new meaningless one.\" Well said, Steve, but if we all displayed Union Jack, how long would it be before the PC Brigade objected on the grounds of racism? We are not taught to respect, or indeed, be proud of being British. So why bother at a local level? In fact, we should be sticking together not putting up further barriers to induce ill feeling between Counties. It\'s bad enough reading comments on here between Southampton and Portsmouth bods, let alone escalating it to a County level. Then again, both City\'s would be lumped together under the same banner, could it possibly bring them closer together? Sadly, I think not.What is 'being British' ? How is the Union Flag rascist? the Union flag represents the United Kingdom of Scotland , England and Wales, wheresas the Cross of St George singles out England.If there was such thing as a PC brigade surely they would go after the George Cross. Thats the one all the knobheads from the BNP wave.
We do, unfortunately, have to watch what we do, as it is all too easy for others to jump to conclusions. For instance, I take no offence with the George Cross, but you have immediately linked it to the BNP! (Not knocking you for that, I just haven't taken enough notice of them to know that to be the case).
If I displayed the Union Flag, it would be to display my loyalty to my Country. Others, I'm sure, would say that it excludes the minority communities and therein lies the problem. Racist, I am not!
obelisker, southampton says...
8:58am Fri 29 Aug 08