Devon Flag Group

The Devon Flag Group (DFG) has been set up to promote the Devon Flag (and Devon generally), to set and maintain the standards for the Devon Flag and to evaluate and where it thinks appropriate to endorse or criticise Devon Flag product or services available.

The DFG was established in 2003 and is made up of a number of individuals who helped to some degree in the design, selection and/or initial promotion of the Devon Flag. The DFG is in the process of registering with The Flag Institute.

The DFG is not a commercial organisation and does not (nor intends to) make profit from the Devon Flag. If any of its members are involved in any commercial ventures involving the Devon Flag, then that individual shall not participate in any review, endorsement of criticism of the related product or service.

Devon Flags Flutter at the Devon County Show (May 2004)

Devon wins the County Championship at Twickenham (May 2004)

(both pictures courtesy of BBC Devon)

THE HISTORY OF THE FLAG

The Devon Flag was designed by Devonian Ryan Sealey in 2002 following a discussion on the BBC Devon website. It won two subsequent web-based polls and is therefore one of the few flags in the world to be chosen by the popular opinion of its own people.

Although the Devon Flag is therefore relatively new, the colours of the flag are those popularly identified with Devon (eg the colours of its Rugby team), and Viscount (or Lord) Exmouth flew a Green and White Flag at the Battle of Algiers (now on view at the Teign Valley Museum).

THE FLAG

The Devon Flag is made of three colours - Green (Pantone 348), Black and White. The Green represents the colour of the rolling and lush Devon hills, the Black represents the high and windswept Moors (Dartmoor and Exmoor) and the White represents both the salt spray of Devon's two coastlines and the China Clay/Kaolin industry (and mining in general).

In terms of dimensions of the flag if the length of the flag is 500 then the white cross is 50 wide and the black borders each 10 wide.

IN HONOUR OF THE FLAG

The following poem was written by Dartmouth Mariner Kevin Pyne

The Devon Flag

Across the soft breeze in gentle rhythm
Like the summer seas upon its shore
The warm janners green flag flies
To mark this mornings coming day
St Petroc's long lost Celtic cross is found
The cruciform shape sea spume white
A calm white of saintly patience
The white of clay
Our flag, which on stormy days cracks and shimmers
Up in the salt caked cross trees
Of perhaps a thousand small ships
Marking those who have Devon in their hearts
May it watch over and guide our fishermen and seamen
Until they are safe again
Let it fly high on the church towers as the clock strikes
To bring the farmers
To the green fields which feed a nation
Dumnonia's flag
Its cross is laced with black
As is the Moorland granite
The timeless headstone
Where they have carved our names in the past
And where we will remember those who have served our nation
Yet even as the flag was born..

The Devon Flag has been dedicated to St Petrock (or Petroc), who is a Celtic saint who frequented Devon & Cornwall. There are many churches (and other buildings) named after St Petrock - with Devon having the advantage in numbers.

WHEN TO FLY THE DEVON FLAG

We would encourage Devonians to fly the Devon Flag as often as they like - any day is a good day.

However some organisations or people may have a number of flags and have asked for a specific list of dates on which it is 'more' appropriate to fly the Devon Flag.

The DFG have therefore agreed on the following list of dates, based on local events and the annual celebrations for Devon's saints.

4 January
7 January
5 March
7 April
May Bank
   Holiday
May/June
3 June
4 June
5 June
6 June
17 June
21/22 June
26 June
8 July
13 July
30 July
10 August
30 August
26 September
2 November
5 November
7 November
8 December
12 December
21/22 December
31 Dec to 6 Jan

Many of the Saints mentioned above have strong links to Devon going back over a thousand years. Many are linked to strange and miraculous tales, and most are still venerated or celebrated each year on the days above.

We also suggest the Devon Flag be flown at local events such as the Dartmouth Regatta, The Hunting of the Earl of Rhone in Combe Martin etc.., whenever Devon's Rugby team are playing and the day after each win.

ENDORSED DEVON FLAG PRODUCT

The following Devon Flag products have been endorsed by the DFG

Sewn Devon Flags                  - Mr Flag
                                                (contact via link)

Devon Flag Bumper Stickers - Dewnansek Pty Ltd
                                                (contact via link)

                                  and theDevonFlag-Sticker.co.uk
                                             & Shipmates
                                                (2 Newcomen Road
                                                 Dartmouth, Devon)

Various Devon Flag product   - DevonFlag.co.uk
                                                (contact via link)

Other product is currently being evaluated and if endorsed will be included here.

If you have any comments about these, or any other Devon Flag Product then please contact the DFG on [email protected]