Calendar

Jul
14
Sun
2019
Black Country Day: Anniversary of the Newcomen Engine
Jul 14 all-day

Black Country Day celebrates the installation of the first practical steam engine by Thomas Newcomen (1712).

https://www.blackcountryfestival.co.uk/

Jul
15
Mon
2019
Hampshire Day: Feast of St Swithun
Jul 15 all-day

Hampshire Day takes place annually on 15 July, the Feast Day of St Swithun.

St Swithun was Bishop of Winchester (852–63) and subsequently patron saint of Winchester Cathedral.

Jul
17
Wed
2019
UK: Birthday of HM The Queen
Jul 17 all-day

The Birthday of HM The Queen is listed as a flag flying day by UK government guidance.

The Union Flag is specified.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/designated-days-for-union-flag-flying

The Birthday of HM The Queen is also listed as a flag flying day by Scottish government guidance.

The Scottish Saltire is specified.

https://www.gov.scot/publications/flag-flying-on-government-buildings/

Jul
23
Tue
2019
Historic County Flags Day
Jul 23 all-day

Historic County Flags Day takes place annually on 23 July, giving an opportunity for individuals and organisations to show pride in their historic county.

The date commemorates the creation of the Devon Flag (2002), triggering the movement to design a modern flag for each of the UK’s historic counties.

Since 2019 (not 2020) the flags have flown together in Parliament Square, London.

Jul
29
Mon
2019
Buckinghamshire Day: Inaugural Paralympic Games
Jul 29 all-day

Buckinghamshire Day marks the origin of the Paralympic Games.

On the opening day of the London Olympics (1948), Stoke Mandeville Hospital hosted the first event ever organised for disabled athletes alongside an Olympic Games.

The Stoke Mandeville Games later became the Paralympic Games, which first took place in Rome (1960).

https://www.paralympic.org/ipc/history

Aug
1
Thu
2019
Yorkshire Day: Anniversary of Battle of Minden, 1759
Aug 1 all-day

Yorkshire Day began in 1975 as a celebration launched by the Yorkshire Ridings Society – newly formed ‘a protest movement against the local government re-organisation of 1974’ – to promote the county of Yorkshire.

The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, now part of the The Rifles, already celebrated this date as Minden Day, marking their part in the battle of Minden (1759).

The six infantry regiments involved in that battle wear a rose in their headdress.

In the case of The Rifles, the rose is white.

Aug
22
Thu
2019
North Riding Day: Battle of the Standard, 1138
Aug 22 all-day

North Riding Day takes place annually on 22 August.

It marks the date of the battle of the Standard (1138), when English forces defeated the Scots near Northallerton.

The name of the battle derives from the consecrated banners of the minsters of Durham, York, Beverley and Ripon.

These flew from a mast mounted on a cart that marked the centre of the English position.

Aug
24
Sat
2019
East Riding Day: Birthday of William Wilberforce
Aug 24 all-day

East Riding Day takes place annually on 24 August.

It marks the birthday of Hull-born MP William Wilberforce (1759–1833), leader of the movement to abolish the slave trade.

Aug
31
Sat
2019
Northumbria Day: Feast of St Aidan
Aug 31 all-day

Northumbria Day takes place annually on 31 August, the feast of St Aidan.

Aidan of Lindisfarne (d. 651) was a monk and missionary.

He founded Lindisfarne Priory and by tradition converted the Northumbrians to Christianity.

Sep
13
Fri
2019
Rutland Day: Great Siege of Gibraltar
Sep 13 all-day

Rutland Day takes place annually on 13 September.

It marks the defeat of the ‘Grand Assault’ during the siege of Gibraltar in 1782.

Among the defenders were the men of the 58th (Rutlandshire) Regiment of Foot.