Black Country flag flies across world

Proud Black Country folk have been spreading the word as preparations gather pace for the groundbreaking event celebrating all that is great in the Black Country.

More than 5,000 Black Country flags have been manufactured and sold to people keen to show off their passion for where they were born and raised. And they have been proudly waved in all corners of the world –ranging from huge sporting events, music festivals and even by soldiers in Afghanistan.

It seems the world is finally sitting up and taking notice ahead of the July 14 extravaganza.

From the swaying masses gathered in front at the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury the flag was hoisted high on a pole joining the throngs of music fans enjoying the acts. The flag was spotted by fans in the crowds and was clearly seen on television pictures beamed across the country to families in their armchairs.

Keen

Soldiers have been keen to remember a slice of life in the Black Country even while in the hot deserts of Afghanistan by flying the Black Country Flag over Camp Bastion.

And the Black Country even got a slice of the action at the World Cup in Brazil and another was spotted during the first day of the Tour de France. One of the main organisers, 'Black Country' Gaz Sawers, has been feverishly working around the clock to post and package as many of the Black County Flags as he can.

Among the places he has posted out flags is Bermuda to friends of Dudley Council's deputy council leader, Councillor Pete Lowe, and also to New Zealand and Australia.

"I can't believe that we have sold so many and they are now all around the world," said Gaz who lives in Pensnett, Dudley.

"We have had a lot of people upload themselves through the Black Country Day Facebook page of them everywhere. We have had people who must have bought them to lend out to relatives as many have been sent in from all over the place."

Dudley Council's deputy council leader, Councillor Pete Lowe, was among those to help get the festivities off the ground and says it is special to see the flag flown with such pride. "I have to say a massive thank you to everyone who had purchased the Black Country Flag from families to places around here to ex-pats who have flown the flag all around the globe," he says.

The flag was designed by schoolgirl Gracie Sheppard last year. The 14-year-old, who attends Redhill Secondary School in Stourbridge, said: "I feel really proud and really shocked – I didn't think it would become such a big sell. It's incredible, I designed the flag at home and now I am seeing it around quite a lot and people are coming up to me at school saying they have seen. I like creating things through art – it could be something I do when I get older."

The red, white and black colours on the flag are a reference to the description of the Black Country by Elihu Burritt, who said it was 'black by day and red by night'.

The Black Country Festival has been devised to bring together a host of arts and cultural events under one banner as excitement builds.

Councillor Lowe said: "It is becoming our own St Patrick's Day which is fabulous as we wanted it to be an event that brings everyone together.

"The partnerships within the community shows how successful it has become.

"It only started last November with a chat between myself, Councillor Ian Marrey and Black Country Gaz who we didn't know at the time who wanted to get together an event to celebrate Black Country Day. "To have created a month-long series of events around the day itself is beyond our wildest dreams."

At the weekend, visitors flocked to events organised as part of the Black Country festivities at Dudley Fire Station and Manor House museum in West Bromwich.

Mr Sawers performed at the fire station in Burton Road where there were also family activities including the chance to watch dog handler and fire demonstrations, a bouncy castle.

Highlights

While at Manor House, there was live music, comedy, children's entertainment on Saturday. Visitors could also have a lesson in 'spakeing' Black Country.

They are just some of the events taking place this month. Among the highlights is a three-day festival of comedy, music and poetry, which starts at the Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley this Friday.

While on Saturday there will be live music including performances from The Empty Can, who recently made the charts, with their Black Country Anthem called I Vow to Thee Black Country in Stone Street, Dudley.

Mr Sawers said: "Venues across Dudley town centre are getting behind the Black Country Festival and many shops and pubs are now displaying the Black Country flag and posters about the activities on offer."

Traders in Fountain Arcade will be decorating the shopping promenade with bunting, balloons and flags to celebrate all things Black Country and there will be free face painting and balloon modelling for children

A special citizenship ceremony is also planned on Black Country Day.

Seventy adults from across Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley will become British nationals and Black Country citizens.

The event will take place at Dudley Town Hall, the first place in the region to fly the Black Country Flag, with the soundtrack for the day being the Black Country Anthem, 'I Vow To Thee Black Country'.

It will be overseen by Priory Hall superintendent registrar Penny Fulford.

The full list of events is available at www.blackcountryfestival.co.uk and people can buy a Black Country flag at Black Country T-Shirt Shop in Cradley Heath and The Black Country Living Museum.

A 5ft x 3ft flag costs £4.99.