New patches! I did a talk!

We're pleased to announce that we now stock Dorset Flag patches as shown to the left.

In other news, I was persuaded to do a talk on the flag at the Long Bredy Annual General Meeting. First time I've done a talk on it and to be honest I don't like public speaking much - but I felt it went rather well and I certainly heard later that people generally found it interesting to hear about. Notably - there were some people at that AGM who didn't know about the flag until that very evening!

Wessex FM are now doing a car sticker with the flag on. Nice one guys for getting behind the flag like that. :-)

St Wite's Day came and went on the 1st June. Dark Dorset did a nice piece on it.

Been a long time!

Greetings everyone. It indeed has been a very long time since I posted here. I think that has been due to several things:

- The campaign was a massive drain, both physically and mentally.
- I'd had enough of the bad-mouthing toward me.
- I wanted nothing to do with it for a while.
- I moved.....and it took ages.

...and that's been some time!

Opinion still seems to be quite divided on the Dorset Cross, it seems to be a bit like marmite in that sense, but most TIC's around Dorset are now stocking it with stickers and badges. A good few flags were sold last year. I think those that don't like it, simply ignore it.

It was spotted at Glastonbury on the TV this past year, which was splendid - one in the eye for the overwhelming amount of Devon flags.....

I spot the car stickers all around the county and you do actually see the flag flying around various places.

More recently, I was made aware of this:
http://www.mags4dorset.co.uk/dorset-flag-flies-at-half-mast-for-ron-fardell/

Which is both notable and incredibly sad. I think it's the first time that's happened or that I've been made aware of.

So, what's been happening?

Chris Brown, Mel Gudger and James Marshall are fronting the 'Dorset Flag (charity) group'. This is an effort to sell Dorset flags and give all profits to charity, now that the Dorset Flag Group no longer sells flags. Website pending. There is a Facebook group.

The original Facebook group and identity still exists.

My family continues to sell flags, badges, stickers and hopefully soon other things from our website.

It was nice to see Alistair Chisholm managed to get Dorchester Town Council to line South Street with flags all the way down.

Swanage Guides were given £100 donation that was made up from Flag Sales by Swanage TIC and DFG.

Despite the Borough of Poole claiming that they're not in Dorset and that the flag does not represent them, Poole Town FC seem to think otherwise!

I moved! I'm now a Westside Durnovarian, having previous been an Eastsider.

I see some patches have surfaced on Ebay.

The future?

I'm not sure. I'll try to keep the main site and news section more up to date, but my head's not really here anymore now that the objective has been completed. There are days when I look at the flag and think - I got that voted in? Why? ;-)

Dorset Flag Group donates £1000 to Air Ambulance Service

The group who promoted the winning entry in last year’s competition to find a Dorset flag has donated £1000 to the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance Service.

The Dorset Flag Group which includes Jacquie Hall, Town Crier of Wareham, Chris Brown, Town Crier of Wimborne and Dorset flag designer Dave White were given a tour of the facilities located at Henstridge Airfield in Somerset and saw the Air Ambulance crew in action as a call came in during the presentation.

Tracy Bartram - fundraising coordinator for the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was delighted to receive the cheque for £1000, stating ’It’s amazing how the public support us in so many different ways. Having a flag for Dorset is fantastic. The fact that money raised from selling the flag is helping the air ambulance continue to fly is even better. We need to raise in excess of £1.2m a year, and this goes to show that people can help us by raising funds in so many different ways.'

Funds had been raised from the sale of the groups winning flag entry ‘St Wite’s Cross’ during last years campaign to see Dorset’s first ever county-wide flag elected. A previous £500 had been donated to Wimborne Minster’s Priest House in November 2008.

Dave White stated “We’d always intended to give surplus funds from the campaign back to local charities and the Air Ambulance Service seems a highly appropriate one, given that it is entirely funded by donation."

The group left behind flags, stickers and badges to pass around the crew, noting that the helicopter and the flag matched somewhat.

Been A While

Been a while since much activity on here, we were of course all a little relieved that the flag won so handsomely and after expelling a lot of effort have been resting a little. However there are some bits and pieces to bring you up to date with and I will expand on them a little more when I have time and all the photos!

FLAG PARTY on Saturday November 1st was a great success and a big bunch of fun. Many thanks to the bands PRONGHORN, RAT RACE and ANIMAL TALENT SHOW for their time efforts and brilliant sets. ALSO many thanks to Kate and her team in the WHITE HART for letting us put on the gig and providing the Marquee and heating. We raised a handsome sum and once recovered let you know how much and where it is going to. Some very amusing pictures should arrive soon.

REMEMBRANCE: 11.11.08 for the first time in history the Dorset/St Wite's Cross paid homage to those who have served this great nation and lost their lives by accompanying the Royal British Legion Standards on to Wimborne Minster Green for the Act of Remembrance at the eleventh hour. Photos should arrive soon.

AT SEA: I understand the Dorset/St Wite's Cross has been flying high and on the sea with the Weymouth Gig Racing Club and looks, as we said it would, great against a sea scape. Many thanks to the group for their early support and we know you will bring glory to Dorset for many years! Do send us your pictures please.

FLAG CAR STICKERS are now available.

FUTURE OF THIS GROUP we, Dave, Jacquie and I (Chris) are considering the options concerning how the future of the group will formally wind up as our objective has been achieved. We shall be making announcements soon. We have selected one charity that is of benefit to all residents and visitors to the County which we feel is best placed to receive the profits from the flag sales this group has generated. They also use a very fetching "gold" colour!

AND IT'S A WIN!!!!

Today - 16th September - votes were counted for the four contenders shortlisted for Flag of Dorset.

The results were as follows:

Total Valid Votes : 3868
Flag B : 2086 (54%) - The Dorset Cross - Our flag!
Flag C : 856 (22%)
Flag D : 818 (21%)
Flag A : 108 (3%)

Total Valid Votes : 3868
Spoiled Votes : 222

We’re very pleased about the result – we’re glad that when it went to a vote, what we believed has been proven. We’re thankful for the process that’s got us here.

Thus and as confirmed by John Peake - Chairman of Dorset County Council - The Dorset Cross now IS the flag of Dorset!

He said: “It’s wonderful that so many people have voted and that we now have a symbol for the county we all love. I hope I shall soon see flags flying all over the county and beyond.”

Chair of the original selection panel, Graham Bartram (Chief Vexillologist of the Flag Institute), said: “Many counties are adopting their own flag to show pride in their area. Dorset has taken a very democratic approach in inviting people across the county to vote.

“It’s clear that Dorset people love their county and are keen to have a flag which represents it. I’m delighted to see that so many people voted.”

Voting now over....

Voting has now officially ended. I presume the last chance one had was to email before midnight.

The count will be on the 16th September, of which I will be present. However, the results will not likely be given then. Verification of voters will probably then take place the next day, so we're looking at the end of next week for the result.

Last Chance to Vote on a Dorset Flag

From DCC's website:
http://www.dorsetforyou.com/index.jsp?articleid=389780

"Don't miss your chance to vote for your preferred design for a flag to represent the county and its people.

Four possible designs, shortlisted from 29 ideas sent in by local people, are in the running and voting closes on Friday 12 September so there's still time to make your choice.

Posters featuring the four designs are on show at the county's libraries and are also posted on the Flag Institute (opens in a new window)website.

You can also pick up a voting slip at your local Dorset library, download one from the Flag Institute's website or just send your choice and contact details on a postcard to Flag Institute.

Alternatively you can e-mail your choice of A, B, C or D to dorset@flaginstitute.org, including your name, address and phone number.

Graham Bartram, Chief Vexillologist (flag expert) from the Flag Institute, has been involved in the shortlisting and organisation of the competition. He said: "Votes have been coming in thick and fast, both hard copies and emails. It's exciting to see that so many people support the idea of a Dorset flag.

"It's important that as many people as possible send in their vote so that the flag which eventually represents Dorset is truly chosen by the people of the county."

Residents of the whole county of Dorset, including Bournemouth and Poole, are eligible to vote. You must provide your address so that the judges can verify you live in the county.

Votes will be counted on Tuesday 16 September with an announcement of the winner as soon as possible after numbers have been verified."

GET IN THERE.