MARYHILL TO FLY ITS VERY OWN COMMUNITY FLAG
MARYHILL will become the first community in Glasgow to bear its own legally recognised flag. Staff at the Burgh Halls in the proud North Glasgow neighbourhood were inundated with entries to a competition opened by heritage and community development manager Nicola McHendry last year.
She and a team of judges including Janey Godley, Jane McCarry – better known as Isa in Still Game – and the Reverend Canon Joseph Morrow, the current Lord Lyon have picked the top five entries, which are being kept top secret until the big reveal, planned for later this year.
“I found it really interesting to see what people would put on a flag. I know what I think is important,” said Nicola.
“I would have the canal and the river and something representing industry.
“A lot of people’s submissions featured the military because the history of the barracks is still very important to people.”
A number of submissions featured local side Partick Thistle’s colours, she added.
The winning flag will be recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, the body which guarantees the flag’s status in Scots law.
“We had a lot of local entries but some from Canada, Australia, Sweden and even one from Thailand,” said Nicola.
It is hoped the winning flag, to be decided by a public vote, as well as the runners up will be revealed and celebrated with an event at the Halls when restrictions are lifted.
Nicola said: “I want to have the public vote when we know we can open, we want to have people to come in person, possibly at an outdoor event.
Philip Tibbetts, a vexillologist with the Court, said: “Recognition by the Court of the Lord Lyon not only guarantees the status of the flag in Scottish law, but it connects it to the very traditions and heritage of Scotland.
“Inclusion in the Lyon Court’s register will see the Maryhill flag appear in the same document alongside the Saltire itself, as well as the hundreds and thousands of heraldic symbols in Scotland from across the centuries to the present day.
“Scotland has one of the richest patchworks of personal and local symbols in the world, the Maryhill flag will be adding to that national tradition with a patch of its own.”