Serious campaigning for a Dorset Flag began in January this year, a few months after John Peake of DCC said that the council had no authority to create a flag because of the Unitary Status of Poole and Bournemouth.
The Dorset Cross, has a golden field – linked to ancient Wessex (golden dragon), Golden Cap and Gold Hill and a white cross outlined in red. All three colours are found in the arms of DCC. If the flag was to be named after a saint – Dorset's own St Wite who rests at Whitchurch Canonicorum would be desired above all others as she is thought to have been a local.
The flag is going from strength to strength with hundreds of flags, badges and stickers having been sold to the Dorset public. Wimborne Town Council recently adopted it and it is to be blessed at Stonehenge this Saturday(27th June) by Dorset Grove.
Despite this, John Peake announced a county wide 'competition' for a new flag of Dorset, in an apparent u-turn on their previous position(citing us as 'having got them going'). That contest ends tonight(27th June '08) at midnight. A panel of judges (The High Sheriff, Lord Lieutenant, Two members of the youth parliament, the Dorset Echo editior and chaired by the Flag Institute's chief vexillologist(flag expert)) will shortlist four entries that will be voted on by the Dorset public.
The Dorset Cross has been entered into this competition. In the event we lose, it's possible we will carry on regardless as DCC does not have the power to authorise an official flag. Only the College of Arms and the Queen can do that.
A piece on Meridian went out yesterday : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vCjbysUn8EU
Buy a Dorset Flag
For more info or to buy a flag go to: http://dorsetflag.webs.com/
Fly it
Bridport Radio editor and Who's Afear'd fly the flag here…
I have a boss top notch design for a Dawset flag. How do I enter the competition?
The competition deadline for the WDDC competition has ended (27th June ’08) Although Bridport Radio would like to see your designs – send ’em to![]()
There’s a chap on eBay sellling what he claims is the Dorset flag. I would post a picture, but I can’t.
A lot of problems with the so-called “”Dorset Cross””. St Wite is a mystery – she may be a man! She/he may not even be British, let alone Dorset according to a website on Saints. And, traditionally, martyred saints are celebrated with a saltire, not a cross (as in Saint Andrew). Originally being promoted as St Wite’s Cross, the promoters quickly changed the name to Dorset Cross after criticisms. However, the association to a little known and obscure saint is, in my opinion, not what we want a Dorset flag to be associated with. Wiltshire celebrates its county with the Great Bustard. We have a unique Dorset butterfly, unique coastline, literary heritage with Thomas Hardy, maritime heritage with Thomas Masterman Hardy (of Trafalgar fame). Hopefully the chosen design will celebrate Dorsetness.
The fact of the matter is Keith – you simply don’t like the design and have been falling over yourself to finds reasons why it is inappropriate. First it was offensive to non-Christians, then it was multi-ethnic society, then it was Conservatives! Also, your research on St Wite is very, very poor. The book on St Wite, obtained from the Church in Whitchurch, quite clearly points out that the bones in that church are of a forty year old woman, not a man and they’ve been there for sometime. Local tradition, yes, that’s Dorset tradition Keith, celebrates this woman as a Dorset woman – it’s nice to see you rubbishing a Dorset tradition there Keith. I can scan the pages and send you if you like. Also – what’s this nonsense that all Martyr’d saints have to have a Saltire?!?!?!?! Traditionally? Since when? What about St Patrick? What about the Jamaican flag? What’s wrong exactly with us changing our minds on something? Is that some big crime? Surely we are listening and responding to the wants of the people. As far as I can see – your ‘alot of problems with the Dorset Cross’ are in fact just St Wite – oh and you don’t like the colours – ‘it’s bland’ – then you managed to create an AWFUL Nordic Cross that looked, like you said, had been knocked up in 20 minutes. You even now try to argue that it’s not Nordic – it clearly is! Why didn’t you put a picture of Thomas Hardy on there? I wish you had as it would really have shown up your complete ignorance of heraldry and vexillology. Then, refusing to discuss your flag? It’s clear what you’re trying to do – badmouth us, even though it’s due to us this initiative is even taking place, but hey – it’s all spin now eh Keith? Now the comp has ended.