Exmoor Flag
A unique unveiling ceremony has launched the much-anticipated Exmoor Flag at the West Somerset Railway in Minehead.
To great fanfare and flag-waving, the new flag rumbled down the track blazoned on a majestic steam locomotive.
Jenny Stevens designed the winning flag.
‘The flag tells a story of Exmoor’s varied terrain,’ explained Jenny, ‘sea meets river meets cliff path meets moorland meets forest meets wildlife.’
The new Exmoor Flag is part of the 60th Anniversary celebrations for Exmoor National Park.
The judges considered 261 entries from as far afield as Australia and America, and from community groups, schools, and individuals aged from two to 93.
They included Communities Vexillologist Philip Tibbetts, who expertly guided the selection process to produce a shortlist of five.
Winner Jenny lives in London with her young family and first fell in love with Exmoor as a child on a school trip.
The whole family has a passion for flags, so it was an opportunity she couldn’t miss.
Her bold and simple design clearly struck a chord with the public, receiving 41 per cent of 858 votes cast (446 online; 412 postal).
Prizes for all
Jenny received a whole range of prizes from wildlife photographer Johnny Kingdom.
These included the very first Exmoor Flag, hand made in Exford by Robin Ashburner, former President of the Flag Institute.
Local businesses added to her gifts:
- Paul Tuck of Exmoor Baskets & Hurdles gave a hand-made wicker basket, overflowing with Exmoor produce, products and vouchers.
- Exmoor National Park offered a day our with a ranger.
- Exmoor Magazine donated a year’s subscription.
And gifts also went to all five finalists – Jamie Loudon (Flag A), Martin Shoots (Flag B), Kathryn Roseveare (Flag C), Kevin Sandiford (Flag D) and Jenny Stevens (Flag E):
- a copy of British Flags & Emblems (Flag Institute, 2004)
- a case of Golden Ale from Exmoor Ales
- their design beautifully reproduced by James Guscott of Active Signs (last year’s Somerset flag competition runner-up)
An Exmoor Flag also went to the Rural Deanery of Exmoor, and to the mayors of Minehead, Barnstaple, South Molton, Watchet and Ilfracombe, resplendent in their ceremonial regalia.
A vintage bus provided by Quantock Heritage and sponsored by local businesses will now tour the Exmoor Flag.
Towns and village will receive a flag to hold their own celebration.
First stop will be Porlock, with short ceremonies planned in Lynton and Dulverton.
From Porlock, where an Exmoor Ranger will set off to fly the flag on Dunkery Beacon, Exmoor’s highest point.
