Veteran George Stanford, 66, of Elmswell, annoyed after Union Flag flown upside down at Remembrance service in Bury St Edmunds
A former solider said he is annoyed after the Union Flag was flown upside down during a town’s Remembrance service.
Like many others in Bury St Edmunds, Lt Col (Ret’d) George Stanford, 66, of Elmswell, was surrounded by serving forces, veterans and family members during the parade on Sunday which honours and remembers those who have died in war and conflict.
However, before the parade made its way to Angel Hill, Mr Stanford said he felt shocked to see the Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, being flown upside down atop of the Abbey Gate.
He said: “I just can’t believe nobody checked.
“It’s one of those things that a lot of people, like myself, can spot from a mile away. Its automatic, your brain just knows that its wrong. You don’t even have to think about it.
“I know it’s just a mistake and I think to myself, ‘should I be annoyed?’ — but yes, I am annoyed about it.
“Especially on a day like that, it’s really upsetting.
“There would be people in the crowd who have lost their sons, daughters, husbands or wives in the conflict — how do you excuse getting this so wrong?
“I do hope, at the very least, that some education is given to the council personnel responsible for flying our national flag.”
Mr Stanford served his country for 38 years before retiring on his 60th birthday and he comes from a proud military family, with two sons currently in the military, his wife previously served in the RAF, his younger sister is retired Army and his wife’s father was also retired RAF.
The Union Flag is not symmetrical because of a rule of heraldry that gives Scotland precedence over Northern Ireland.
In the upper corner of the flag nearest the pole, the wider diagonal white stripe should be above the red diagonal stripe — if the red is above the wider white stripe, the flag is upside down.
In a social media video, posted to Facebook by West Suffolk Council, the flag can be seen in the background being flown incorrectly during the parade.
Cllr Ian Shipp, cabinet member for leisure at the council, said: “We would like to apologise to anyone offended or upset by this honest mistake and we will be providing additional training to staff to ensure this doesn't happen again.”
Mr Stanford said this is not the first time the Union Flag has been flown incorrectly on the Abbey Gate as he recalled at least two previous occasions.
However, these incidents did not occur on such a significant day as Remembrance Sunday.
