Flag Competition for East Riding

Posted by on the 1st January 1970 at 12:09

THE East Riding could soon have its own flag and it is up to the public to decide on its design. None of the Ridings of Yorkshire have had their own flag before but campaigner Andy Strangeway is changing all that. The adventurer from Pocklington launched a competition for the East Riding flag in January and has now narrowed it down to six designs. The initiative follows similar successful schemes to design flags for Devon and Lincolnshire. Mr Strangeway, 48, said: "I want to walk along the entire boundary of the East Riding and put the flag at the extreme points. "I realised there were no flags for the Ridings of Yorkshire. "I'm a member of the Flag Institute and asked members about it. "We decided the best way forward was to hold a competition to design a flag. "We got about 17 entries for East Riding, which is fantastic. We have narrowed that down to six, which will now go to a public vote. "We have also launched competitions for the West and North Ridings." Mr Strangeway believes the flag will be important to promote the region's identity. He said: "It creates a love of your county, it creates a pride. "It also reflects your cultural heritage. "We hope it will be widely adopted and by East Riding Council and Hull City Council. "It will help with business, tourism and sport. "I have no doubt it will become widely seen. "I have no idea why the East Riding has never had a flag before. This is a massive part of the country to be without a flag. Politically, the Ridings were abolished as administrative areas in 1974. But Mr Strangeway said: "It is a travesty to think the Ridings of Yorkshire have somehow ceased to exist. They remain an important part of identity in Yorkshire. "Hopefully, having these flags will cement that sense of identity." Yorkshire already has an official flag of a white rose on a blue background. It was first flown in Hull by the Yorkshire Ridings Society in 2008. Voting has started and people can visit www.andystrangeway. wordpress.com/east-riding-flag to pick their favourite. The closing date for voting is on Sunday, March 24. The winning flag will be registered in the Flag Institute's UK Flag Registry. Once the flag has been chosen, Andy will parade it round the region. He said: "The first East Riding flag will be walked around the East Riding boundary by myself in August. "Others who would like to join me at various points can do so." Mr Strangeway has completed a number of challenges over the years. In August 2007, became the first person to land and sleep on all of Scotland's 162 islands of 40 hectares and above. He has also slept solo on the three highest peaks in the UK and the six extreme points of the country over six consecutive nights.