Each year we hold a Spring and a Winter Conference, and in 2021/22 we ran a special Golden Jubilee gala programme.
Spring Conference 2025
Saturday 17 May, Bar Convent Living Heritage Centre, Blossom Street, York YO24 1AQ
- 11am–6pm: presentations (see below)
- 7pm: President’s Drinks and River Cruise
Sunday 18 May
- 10.30am–11.30am: Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and its collection of heraldic craft guild banners – guided tour led by Museum Director Lauren Marshall
- 1.30pm–3pm: York Army Museum – private opening and guided tour led by Museum Director, and curator for the Royal Dragoon Guards collection, Major (Ret’d) Graeme Green
The Saturday conference programme featured the following presentations:
- The Contested Legitimacy of Croatian Symbols in the Anglosphere, 1973-99 – Stephen Rayner
Between 1941-45 Croatia’s already well-established symbols – the chequerboard and red-white-blue tricolour – were used by the fascist Independent State of Croatia. Thereafter, the use of such symbols in diverse nationalist contexts caused recurring tensions among émigrés and diasporas, while wider academic and media interest peaked with the adoption of the current Croatian flag in 1990, the Yugoslav Wars and the 1998 World Cup. Stephen explored how the contested legitimacy of Croatian symbols in the Anglosphere is more complex and multifaceted than previously acknowledged.
- Into the Azure: the Vexillology of Civil Aviation – Mike Scott Rumble, Chairman of The White Lion Society
Mike’s presentation documented the heraldry, vexillology, branding, insignia, and visual identity of civil aviation in the United Kingdom. Starting with the formation of Imperial Airways in 1924, his talk outlined the development of a brand identity through the posters, aircraft markings, flags and insignia of the companies that later formed British Airways. Mike charted the introduction in 1931 of the Civil Air Ensign that recognised civil aviation as a worthy flag bearer alongside the RAF and armed forces. He also discussed the livery and tailplanes of BA, British Caledonian, and the flag carriers of the 1970s and 1980s.
- An Introduction to Flags and Sashes – Gustavo Tracchia FF, founding member of the Argentine Association of Vexillology (AAV), NYC commissioner of the Buenos Aires CIDEC Foundation
The presidential sash is a national symbol closely linked to vexillology, and Gustavo’s introductory study highlighted some eloquent examples of this unexplored subject. In Hispanic America, use of the sash was widespread in the early 19th-century independence struggles. In consequence, on becoming legally constituted states, many nations issued executive orders mandating the use of a presidential sash along with the other national symbols, and the practice continues to this day. Examples of the presidential sash in countries outside Hispanic America showed its influence in old and emerging nations alike. Finally, Gus examined the sashes used by the Argentine provinces, and their links with the related provincial flag and/or coat of arms.
- Uniting under One Banner: Designing a Flag for Planet Earth – Oskar Pernefeldt (President), IFOPE–O
Oskar Pernefeldt, designer of the International Flag of Planet Earth and President of its related nonprofit organisation IFOPE-O, is dedicated to promoting a flag that represents Earth – transcending national borders and political divides. As the flag’s awareness agency, IFOPE-O drives its adoption through outreach, collaborations, and advocacy. Mentioned in the EU Parliament, planted on Antarctica, and used by refugee movements, this flag showcases the power of vexillology to shape identity and inspire global action.
- Colours: Symbolism for Medium of Communication – Danladi Kole Bako, Visual artist; founder of Bankoleart and VexDrum
Colours are a powerful, often subconscious, medium of communication, evoking emotions and conveying messages beyond words though their symbolic meanings can vary across cultures and contexts. Danladi’s talk covered the importance of colour symbolism, both outdoor and indoor; human vision and perception; colour intelligence and colour as a form of hierarchy; and, finally, colour symbolism in vexillology.
- An Introduction to Standards, Guidons, Colours, Guns and Truncheons – Geoff Parsons FFI, past Chairman of the Flag Institute
A former naval officer who now lectures mainly on naval flags and signal flags, Geoff explained the difference between royal, heraldic and military standards, and the different types of flag carried by cavalry units, infantry units and other branches of the armed services. His presentation covered units such as the Royal Artillery whose colours are represented by their guns, and the Gurkhas who carry a truncheon. He also described the colours of the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force.
