Soldiers win Union Flag battle

Old soldiers have won victory in a battle to get the Union flag flying permanently from civic buildings in the Wyre Forest district.

Members from the Bewdley branch of the Royal British Legion launched their campaign after complaining that patriotism had taken a dive.

They were angered by the apparent lack of pride and support for the country and soldiers in several parts of the world, including Afghanistan and Iraq, and called for the flag to be flown continually from district town halls.

Now council chiefs have promised to fly the flag all year round. Previously it was only flown on special national days such as the Queen's birthday.

Bewdley legion members today said they were "delighted" with the decision because the flag was "a symbol of pride for past and present servicemen and women."

Second World War veteran Mr George Fairweather, aged 86, of Kidderminster, who was an infantryman with the 9th Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment, said: "I think it is a really good thing. We should be flying every flag we have.

"I think it demonstrates that we are a country which believes in patriotism.

"I think it gives a sense of pride and hopefully helps to instill this in younger people."

Mr Donald Kean, 73, of Kidderminster, who was in air radar with the RAF for four years from 1953 said: "I think it is really rather nice that the flag will be flying. It does demonstrate a certain pride in the country."

The campaign was launched after Bewdley Royal British Legion member James Bragginton visited Kidderminster and was shocked and appalled to find the flag was absent from above the Town Hall.

He said he was given various excuses by officials including that they were "waiting for delivery of a new flag".

On the day the Mercian Regiment's 2nd Battalion (Worcesters and Foresters) marched through Kidderminster to mark renewal of the charter granting them the freedom of the town in March there were hundreds on the streets but Mr Bragginton said the Union flag was not being flown.

Councillor John Campion, Wyre Forest District Council leader, said the flag would be flown above the town hall in Kidderminster, the civic centre, Stourport, and the Guildhall, Bewdley from early September.

Councillor Campion added: "The flag is a unifying symbol in our modern multicultural society. I am very proud of our country and the values it represents and by flying the flag from our civic buildings it is another small way we can celebrate that pride."