Photo-a-Day  (Thursday, 24th April, 2025)

Rather than being upside down, I think we are looking at the back of the flag instead of the front.

It ain't upside down !!

Or could it be it’s just fluttering in the wrong direction?

Without any disrespect meant whatsoever, I would have no idea if the flag is upside down or not. It is there, flying proudly in the breeze, and that's good enough for me. I don't expect everyone to know something like that. It was probably taught in schools at one time, (although I went to school in the 1950s and 1960s and was never taught that). Sometimes a beautiful sight or a perfect moment are lost through people being pedantic.

Well, I know a bit about flags, having put up hundreds over the years while at sea, but I won't go into detail.
I watched them put up scaffolding on St Catherine's church in Scholes, and I can't remember them putting up a traditional flag on top of their spire.
Let's hope this one is only up there for a few hours.
Can you imagine attending a funeral or a wedding and having to endure a flag cracking like a whip from the top of the church?

Guessing this was sent in when it first went up, was sorted pretty quickly

As an ex Coldstreamer who was often detailed to raise and lower the Union Flag, I can assure you the flag in the photo has been raised correctly, with the two broad white diagonal stripes uppermost, next to the hoist.
The upper stripe looks narrower as the flag has been caught by the wind.

I doubt anybody would be climbing up there to check if it’s upside down or inside out. There’s not the respect for the flag it used to command in my opinion. If you go to America it’s different nearly every house has the Stars and Stripes outside fluttering in the breeze. I found people far more patriotic travelling around New England - Vermont, Boston Plymouth etc.

Ps - Unless when England is playing you might see the St George flag flying….but that’s another flag and another matter..

Alan P the flag which ever side you look at it is the same design. And the flag is indicating some one is in distress when flown upside down.The larger white cross should be at the top when attached to the flag pole. Please feel free to google this.I have my union flag in my hand has I type and to make sure I don't put it up the wrong way I have marked the outer top with a small "T".I am flying my England flag at the moment.

We are seeing the results of american imperialism with Trump and the results of British imperialism which is evident when the royal family go to a former colony. Flags are at the centre of these things. Not necessarily a good thing.

Mick must be the only person who has done flagging at sea, must be difficult getting them level

This photo is of Standish, a village in Lancashire. This is Wigan World, with photos of Wigan, a town in Lancashire. That's our flag, flying proudly on a picturesque village church. It's simply a flag, blowing in the breeze on a Spring day in England. WHY ON EARTH do we have to have Trump and Americans lobbed into everything? It's bad enough having our senses assailed with "high fives" and "giving it the heads up" all over the place. Next time we go out for our dinner, (which is at noon in the Roberts' household), I have told Peter I will flatten the first waiter who says "Are YOU GUYS ready to order?" It drives me nutty, honestly.

Whether it's flying right or wrong I went past yesterday and it is still just as shown on the above photo.
Mick you can't hear it flapping on top of the spire but the St Georges Flag which always flutters above the Peace Gate makes a right old racket when the wind blows, its like the mast on a yacht at anchor.

The flag is definitely the correct way up.

The scene seems to change daily . The top section is now completely enveloped in transparent sheeting .

Irene, Americans only go to the bathroom they don’t have toilets, No Way Jose. God bless their cotton picking socks.
Have a nice day y’all,

Yes, Colin, I've heard it, you can now buy silent flags that are made in China, it's something to do with the material that they are made from that stops the cracking sounds.

It’s a bit chilly here folks in Flagstaff Arizona surrounded by desert, mountains and forests on ponderosa pines. Sunrise soon and we’re in for another great day here in the good old USA.

Or Reet Chuck, Way Ta Go me Owd Yankee Cocker.

I once was in Los Vegas and flew in a light aircraft to Flagstaff. On the way, we dipped down into the Grand Canyon and did a few circles.
I think our pilot told me that Flagstaff, for a few hours, was the busiest airport in the world.

The noise from the Peace gate flag isn't the flag itself but the rope rattling on the pole . When the winds up it sounds like you're being machine gunned .

Americanisms . I can't be doing with rugby commentators talking about the Dee -fence .
Lots of younger people now begin sentences with ' So' . Bet that came from over there .
But there's some pleasant ones too . Fall for Autumn is nice .

There is a theory that the American accent is actually how we spoke here in the 17th century with a pronounced drawl and strong rolling "r" sound . Myles Standish may have sounded like John Wayne .

We’ve also seen the flag burned in some towns by various cultures not long ago. What would those proud soldiers feel about that who fought and died for this country. Respect our flag. There’s far worse things than the flag making a noise or being the wrong way up. That’s my opinion and I stick by it.

Mick if I set my flag with the ropes set at a slight angle from the pulley at the top it stops the metal clips and the rope from rattling against the alloy flag post.If you put the rope straight with the top pulley then when the wind blows the tension on the ropes and clips are then like a rubber band or guitar string and will rattle the pole.I have the pole set into a long plastic sleeve so can turn the pole around to any direction

It is flying correctly.

Ne'er mind t'ponderosa pines, Chuck, lad. Thee come o'er 'ere an' ah'll mek thee a pon o'lobbies.

For The Benefit Of Mr Chuck.
There was once no Stars and Stripes, the original flag before America unceremoniously broke away there was The Grand Union Flag sometimes referred to as the The Continental or Cambridge Flag which had the stripes of the 13 Colonies and the British Union Flag of the day representing The Kingdoms of England and Scotland. The Stars replaced the Union Flag in 1777.
Perhaps we should have that hoisted at the top of St Wilfrid’s to commemorate Miles Standish on July 4th. What would Mr Trump make of that on his next State Visit.

It’s not even ‘ Yankee Slang’ we need to be bothered about…they were very welcome in
the early ‘40’s (Well mostly by the girls!) But they were well paid even so! The Dance/ Music scene changed a lot as well. Who doesn’t love the Glen Miller sound? I look on the American cousins with fondness and I’m sure if I’d been of that generation I would have loved it…..

The word “ fall “ for autumn was just one among many words that originated in England and were exported to the new world by the pilgrim fathers .

Its first recorded use in England was in 1545 , remaining in common usage until inexplicably falling into disuse sometime in the second half of the 19th century .

For confirmation , see …Bill Bryson .. Made in America ..p24 .

I LOVE The Glenn Miller sound, Veronica! It's just the way people here copy Americans, calling people "guys" and saying things are "awesome" that drives me mad.....WHY do we have to copy them? Believe it or not, I once played an American, (a maid called Maria), in a play at Wigan Little Theatre. Mind you, I also once played a Lancashire cook, (Agnes), at WLT, and someone in the theatre bar congratulated me on my Lancashire accent, (I'm from Ince!).

A few years ago some councils tried to ban the union flag and the English flag being flown on public buildings in case it upset some one.At this time I went to Bolton and all the youths of ethnic clans where draped in their national flags like batman and robin.I fly any flag I fancy and may buy some more if I like them

Miles Standish sounding like John Wayne? “The hell he did”.

I was just going to say all what you have said Colin

Irene when I visited New England in the beautiful Fall (20 years ago now) the Americans loved my Scholes/ Wigan accent they couldn’t get enough of it especially when I said I knew about Myles Standish as I boarded the old boat at Plymouth Sound with the re- enactment Pilgrims…. We don’t have to copy their accent but they sure as hell love ours!

Ps John Wayne had Irish Ancestry. I agree Ozy all those accents evolved into what we hear today stemming from the Pilgrim Fathers.

DTease, in my opinion St George’s flag is appropriate for St George’s Day and other pure England events.
I would fly the Union Flag in my garden if I had a flag pole every day as a proud Brit.

Peterp, you could try leaving some slack on your rope, that way it will be more of a gentle slap.

Having given it a fair amount of thought , I’m afraid I’m still unable to see the benefit of having a flagpole that can be turned in any direction .
Not unless there’s something obvious that I’m missing of course .

Americans do have toilets WN6 , but they call them “ The John “ for some obscure reason unknown to me .

Or at least they used to , … but slang words do have a tendency to either evolve or change over time .

How many wigginers call it the petty these days ?

In fact , how many Wigginers younger than 20 have ever heard it referred to as the petty ?

You’re right about the British accent in the U.S. Veronica . You’re frequently treated akin to royalty on the basis of your accent , although they often take you for Aussies .

Understandable really when you consider the difficulty encountered by us lot when it comes to differentiating between an American and a Canadian accent .

Mick There is no slap on the post because the ropes are at an angle and not in direct line to the post thus the movement of the ropes are going into fresh air and not hitting the flag pole at any time

Veronica. Ido agree with you about the loss of soldiers lives. We should remember these people and their families. We should also remember the many innocent people who have died at the hands of British forces. The innocent people of Iraq and Afghanistan to name 2 recent jingoistic jaunts under our flag. It does work both ways and there are two sides who lose people.

“Old men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.” – Herbert C. Hoover (Former President of the United States, 1874 – 1964)”

This is very true Veronica. Although with Iraq and Afghanistan Tony Blair happened to be a younger man. One of his notorious responses was “some people have had their lives shortened”. Never been put on trial for this.

He’s been the cause of a lot of problems. Abdul. All ongoing today.