Town Flag Options

[Simon Kirby]

The Town Council is designing itself a flag - see http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2013/flying-...wburys-heritage.

"The design encompasses the town council’s coat of arms, on a field of red and blue, with a wavy line representing the River Kennet running across the middle. It features the golden emblems of Newbury Castle, a teasel, a corn sheaf and two crossed swords."

The central image is Newbury Castle. Castles were the decisive weapon of the 12th century robber-barons and the image represents establishment oppression and the subjugation of the common people by the self-serving corruption of authority. The image of the teasel harks back 500 years to a time when Newbury saw some prosperity in the wool trade, culminating in the town's defining historic event when a local man made a coat, and it reminds us that nothing of any note has happened since. The corn sheaf presumably is a reference to growing stuff, in much the same way as other places grew stuff. The crossed swords remember Newbury as the scene of two indecisive battles in the civil war, neither of which particular involved the people of Newbury, but it does remind us of the importance of resorting to violent and bloody insurrection to solve political differences. Those symbols in yellow atop a red and blue field riven by great wavy crack, symbolising the essential vanity of the parish council and the party-politics that underlies their ineptitude.

So that's nice for the parish council who glory in their establishment authority and marshal past, but how about a flag for the town, forward-looking and celebrating what's excellent and distinctive about the town of Newbury now, in the 21st century.

[Andy Capp]

So that's nice for the parish council who glory in their establishment authority and marshal past, but how about a flag for the town, forward-looking and celebrating what's excellent and distinctive about the town of Newbury now, in the 21st century.

Notwithstanding that Newbury is believed to be a Norman invention!

[Dodgys smarter b...]

Good idea Simon, I would suggest something along the following lines...


A quartered shield, supported on either side by Bollards (rampant) each of the quarters contain representations of pot holes, an ar5e, an elbow and some cracks.

Above should be a picture of a report regarding Victoria Park (locked)

Below should be the new motto, "vindictive, incompetent, indolent".

Also, in the helm should be a picture of a large empty room (to accomodate Swift-Hooks ego) supported by a black dog. (supine)

The field colours should represent the attitude displayed by the town council to West Berks Council, maybe white (surrender) matched with yellow (cowardice).

[dannyboy]

The Town Council is designing itself a flag - see http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2013/flying-...wburys-heritage.

"The design encompasses the town council’s coat of arms, on a field of red and blue, with a wavy line representing the River Kennet running across the middle. It features the golden emblems of Newbury Castle, a teasel, a corn sheaf and two crossed swords."

The central image is Newbury Castle. Castles were the decisive weapon of the 12th century robber-barons and the image represents establishment oppression and the subjugation of the common people by the self-serving corruption of authority. The image of the teasel harks back 500 years to a time when Newbury saw some prosperity in the wool trade, culminating in the town's defining historic event when a local man made a coat, and it reminds us that nothing of any note has happened since. The corn sheaf presumably is a reference to growing stuff, in much the same way as other places grew stuff. The crossed swords remember Newbury as the scene of two indecisive battles in the civil war, neither of which particular involved the people of Newbury, but it does remind us of the importance of resorting to violent and bloody insurrection to solve political differences. Those symbols in yellow atop a red and blue field riven by great wavy crack, symbolising the essential vanity of the parish council and the party-politics that underlies their ineptitude.

So that's nice for the parish council who glory in their establishment authority and marshal past, but how about a flag for the town, forward-looking and celebrating what's excellent and distinctive about the town of Newbury now, in the 21st century.

Did that help any?

[Simon Kirby]

Good idea Simon, I would suggest something along the following lines...


A quartered shield, supported on either side by Bollards (rampant) each of the quarters contain representations of pot holes, an ar5e, an elbow and some cracks.

Above should be a picture of a report regarding Victoria Park (locked)

Below should be the new motto, "vindictive, incompetent, indolent".

Also, in the helm should be a picture of a large empty room (to accomodate Swift-Hooks ego) supported by a black dog. (supine)

The field colours should represent the attitude displayed by the town council to West Berks Council, maybe white (surrender) matched with yellow (cowardice).

[Simon Kirby]

Notwithstanding that Newbury is believed to be a Norman invention!

And in the Anarchy the Normans were the establishment.

[MontyPython]

The Town Council is designing itself a flag - see http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2013/flying-...wburys-heritage.

"The design encompasses the town council’s coat of arms, on a field of red and blue, with a wavy line representing the River Kennet running across the middle. It features the golden emblems of Newbury Castle, a teasel, a corn sheaf and two crossed swords, and the head of Simon Kirby below- with the motto 'That'll teach the little b*st*rd' beneath."

[On the edge]

....and we wonder why people are so disillusioned with politics. So, there is so little business to occupy our Town Councillors they can spend time and money designing a flag - wow. The only good thing is that this proves Newbury does not need a Town Council.

[Simon Kirby]

"The design encompasses the town council’s coat of arms, on a field of red and blue, with a wavy line representing the River Kennet running across the middle. It features the golden emblems of Newbury Castle, a teasel, a corn sheaf and two crossed swords, and the head of Simon Kirby below- with the motto 'That'll teach the little b*st*rd' beneath."

[Andy Capp]

And in the Anarchy the Normans were the establishment.

The original tyranny.

[NWNREADER]

And in the Anarchy the Normans were the establishment.

Why should someone's name determine their place in the heirarchy? I know a Mrs Norman who is not at all a tyrant, and as for poor old Norman Wisdom.......

[dannyboy]

William of Normandy called muster & inspected 7500 Normans in one of the most confusing roll calls in military history.

[Cognosco]

....and we wonder why people are so disillusioned with politics. So, there is so little business to occupy our Town Councillors they can spend time and money designing a flag - wow. The only good thing is that this proves Newbury does not need a Town Council.

Err hasn't most of Newbury been given away? Why would we now need a flag?

[Simon Kirby]

The original tyranny.

Very much so. It's refreshingly honest of the town council to recruit the image of that tyranny, and not a little ironic that any evidence of the castle is not available to the public.

[NWNREADER]

William of Normandy called muster & inspected 7500 Normans in one of the most confusing roll calls in military history.

Shades of Spartacus!

[blackdog]

Err hasn't most of Newbury been given away? Why would we now need a flag?

All of Newbury that belonged to Newbury was given away in 1974 - to Newbury District Council. Can't see what having a flag or not has to do with it?

[Cognosco]

All of Newbury that belonged to Newbury was given away in 1974 - to Newbury District Council. Can't see what having a flag or not has to do with it?

Just thought that if Newbury no longer belongs to the taxpayer (think Parkway, Market Street etc.) why pay for a town flag. I would have thought the Standard Life Logo and other owners Logo's would be more appropriate and of course they would pay for the flag?

[Simon Kirby]

To be honest I quite like the idea of a Newbury flag. My complaint is that what the town council have created isn't a flag to represent and celebrate Newbury, but it's a flag that celebrates the town council, a council that is secretive, arrogant, useless, and vindictive, and the flag's symbolism represents that well, but as a flag for the town it's complete rubbish.

I understand the comments about the cost, but for me this is exactly the kind of thing the town council should be getting involved in, though as always they failed to engage the community in the project and just did it themselves. Badly. A town flag isn't an essential public service, but it can be a useful symbol to rally civic pride, just like a town mayor, or cheese-rolling competition, or hobby horse, or bonfire parade, or most other pageant you care to mention.

It's a shame that the Newbury Society don't create a Newbury Flag, celebrating Newbury's cultural identity and local distinctiveness. They have as much standing as the town council, if not more, so any flag they produced would have just as much credibility.

[On the edge]

Must admit I'm not convinced we need a flag BUT if the Council had gone about it the way you suggest and properly involved the community; Newbury Society, local Arts College, etc. etc. they would probably have got the job done for nothing, been provided with a real rationale for its design and, most of all, generated some significant community involvement and civic pride. Instead they've chosen to make themselves a financially incontinent laughing stock.

[Andy Capp]

I surprised that Simon is such a flag enthusiast, considering what they represent and their original purpose. Equally, has the council got nothing better to do with their time and money?