Pride of place in Staffordshire
We’ve got many more Union Flags (Jacks are at sea only) permanently flying above public buildings in Staffordshire since adoption of my proposition in the County Chamber 18 months ago but I think we should be more openly and consciously proud of Staffordshire too, our county, as a place where we live.
The official Staffordshire Flag contains the heraldic lion, Knot and upturned chevron
I like living in Staffordshire and when we go to other places, particularly Cornwall, there is an overwhelming sence of being somewhere very distinctive and unique. The Cornish flag flies all over the place, you can’t visit a restaurant, cafe or pub without the menu being full of Cornish this and Cornish that and, above all, people are incredibly Cornish.
Most feel an integral part of their County of Cornwall and are not backwards in making that known. And with Government determined to focus on Regions rather than traditional geographic counties it gradually reduces or even destroys our sense of place and belonging.
I don’t feel part of ‘the West Midlands Region‘ (and don’t want to) and I think most people wouldn’t know where the WM Region starts and finishes as a place.
So it’s time to start a Pride in Staffordshire campaign. It’s time for people to feel part of the place they live so I’d like to see the traditional Staffordshire Flag flying and the County Council and others to go out of their way to bring a sense of identity and purpose back to our area. Local food and produce, a sense of our wonderful countryside and traditions and, above all, that feel of belonging which leads to so many social and cultural benefits.
And to kick it off, in a small way, and in the hope it catches Staffordshire people’s imagination I’m buying (myself… not tax payers’ money) a gift of a Staffordshire Flag for each one of the 14 parishes I represent. Some will say it’s nonsense and that there are far more important things to worry about… and I agree about the latter.
But I think a sense of belonging, a feeling of identity and coming from somewhere you have some pride in could be a conduit to start putting right some of those more serious issues.
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4 comments
Mr Ellis, good to see someone having some pride in where we live. I’ve got nowhere to fly a Staffordshire flag but if I had I’m sure I would. Please keep at it though as we could do with some leadership in this country.
If people felt more part of something things would be better. We are all tribal at heart and belonging with others can only help. I like this idea!!
Matt,
Excellent well done on this. A very good point. Its also a really good looking flag too and I’d no idea it even existed. Almost certainly likely to get one but not sure where I’d fly it. Do they do smaller versions or car stickers?
In answer to a couple of questions, put Staffordshire Flag into Google and you will see several websites come up. At least two of them do Staffordshire flag stickers and also miny flags for tables.
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