Kentish Express Ashford & District
Flag artists’ Magna Carta creativity
A flag designed by an Ashford pupil to commemorate the democratic rights and freedoms we have today is being proudly displayed at the town’s Civic Centre.
To celebrate the 800th anniversary of the Magna Carta, Ashford Borough Council (ABC) held a competition among the borough’s young people to design a flag.
The winner was Ben Francis, 11, from the Ashford Prep School, whose design features the Coat of Arms of the Magna Carta barons.
His creation was transformed into a bespoke flag and raised outside the Civic Centre for a week earlier this month.
It will now be permanently exhibited in the Tannery Lane offices.
Second place was awarded to Daisy Hawker and third place went to Alessandro Voce, both 11.
An informal reception held in the Council Chamber was attended by the winners, their families, teachers from Ashford Prep School and ABC leader Cllr Gerry Clarkson and cabinet member Cllr Jessamy Blanford.
Vouchers of £50, £30 and £20 were awarded to the winners.
Ben said: “I am really happy to have won the Magna Carta flag competition.
“Drawing is one of my main hobbies, alongside reading and strategy games, so I found it fun to design the flag.”
The judging panel were so impressed with the high quality of designs that an additional 25 pupils, from various Ashford schools received special certificates.
Cllr Blanford said: “All the designs beautifully captured the meaning of the Magna Carta.
“We received many creative and imaginative pieces of work from more than 100 pupils. They were all of a very high standard.”
The Magna Carta was sealed on June 15, 1215 by King John. It is seen as the foundation of modern democracy and human rights. It limited the power of strict authoritarian rule and introduced trial by jury.