Newsletter

Newsletter #003 - 9th May 2020

To all and sundry here in the British Ensign Club, welcome to the third club newsletter.

While people all over the world are still struggling with lifestyle changes forced upon them by COVID-19, it is still refreshing to see that here in the BEC., membership numbers are increasing and contributions to the FB group page are showing that the newer members are making a positive impact. Matthew Taylor is readying another flag contest to be held on the club web page. He has asked me to ask you for suggestions as to what would be the next flag contest topic. Please have a think about that and let him know.

Along those same lines, it is now May, and I would like to have some nominations for the Queen’s Birthday Honorary Officers list before the end of the month. Remember: the criteria for candidates is for those who have make a notable contribution to the BEC in some way. I’m not taking about money; rather it is about efforts made to help further the club’s mission of providing knowledge and expertise in our particular area of vexillology.

There was some thought about the BEC having its own official coat of arms. Thomas Morin-Cabana though has pointed out that it would best to not bother at this point in the club's history. He goes on to say that if the British Ensign Club were to have arms, they would have to be granted officially by the College of Arms and it not only costs a lot of money, but there is other criteria that would have to be met. On our current emblem, the generic crown is to be retained for the present time. Its usage serves two purposes: to show our additional interest in the standards of the British Royal Family, and as a ‘placeholder’ device signifying a future desire for the BEC eventually being granted a warrant for use of the St. Edward’s Crown. Any resemblance of the generic crown to other crowns – current and former - is purely coincidental.

I want to specially mention Mr. Charles Ashburner of MrFlag.com, who was sent a formal certificate of recognition last month for his work on the flags and emblems of the BEC. His making of certain flags for people to use over the last few weeks during the COVID-19 pandemic – whilst under work restrictions caused by the pandemic - has been a valuable morale boost to his customers and to vexillologists. His efforts are particularly noteworthy as a result and deserve to be recognized.

I will not be presenting any papers at the NAVA conference this year. NAVA-54 has been turned into an online conference, and I feel that the paper I wanted to present – about the history of our flags and emblems – was one that needed to be done personally to a live audience. I’m intending to do so next year either at NAVA-55, or at ICV-29.

I know that there is still a-ways to go before we can get back to a semblance of normality. The Officers of the British Ensign Club earnestly hope that that day will not be too long in coming, and to wish all of you to be careful.

God Bless the British Ensign Club.

God Save The Queen.

Newsletter #002 - 4th April 2020

To all and sundry here in the British Ensign Club, welcome to the second club newsletter.

As you are all no doubt aware, the Covid-19 pandemic is really forcing changes to our social fabric, and amongst those changes is a notification I had recently received from the North American Vexillological Association that NAVA-54 has been postponed to 2021. I had hoped that perhaps there was a possibility that the conference would still be able to go ahead, but given the current crisis, postponement was inevitable.

I have noticed that despite the pandemic, more people are joining the BEC. It’s nice to see that despite the challenges that we are all facing at this time, our club is not only functioning but thriving as well. To our new members, welcome! I am sure that you will all enjoy being with us and make further contributions to our knowledge and understanding of those flags that we enjoy.

Unfortunately, we are still getting a degree of trolling on the group FB page. Some persons have been removed from club membership as a result, whilst others have left on their own accord. Some of those have stated that they had felt badly affronted by the comments or postings of some people, whilst others criticize the BEC itself for being ‘a Kiddie’s Wanna-Be Gentlemen’s Club’ or ‘Elitist’. I want to reiterate that the British Ensign Club is an international vexillological interest group devoted to the research of past and present flags and Ensigns of the United Kingdom and her Overseas Territories, including those of the former British Empire, British Royal Standards, British and Commonwealth Military flags, and flags of independent nations that still bear the Union Flag. Nothing more. While we do have our own flags and badges, such trappings are hardly unique to us. So please keep things in perspective.

Thomas Morin-Cabana has been working very hard on our proposed constitution. The first draft that he has shown me has been most impressive. While there is still additional work to be done before it can be presented to the membership for adoption and ratification, it is very pleasing that Thomas has been dedicated to making a document that will formalize the club in its mission and structure, yet still allow the club to retain its basic informality that we currently enjoy. Despite the pandemic, the BEC is still keeping in its sights the goal of affiliation to the FIAV (World Flag Federation) and the constitution is a big part of meeting the requirements of that goal.

Matthew Taylor continues to administer the club webpage and has continued to enhance and expand it. He is not just devoted to the British Ensign Club; he has gotten his parents to also become members. He is not just our webmaster; he is an active recruiter too. His dedication has really been noteworthy.

It is now April, and I want to ask you all to start thinking about the Queen’s Birthday nominations for people in the BEC that you think deserve to be Honorary Club Officers. The criteria are simple: If you believe that there are club members whom you think have gone the extra mile in promoting the BEC and its goals, all you have to do is to mention that person’s name in the BEC FB group with a brief explanation as to why you think that person should be honored. I’d like to be able to present to the Club Officers by mid-May a list of names for consideration.

Club co-founder Anthony Hathaway-Taylor is going into semi-retirement from BEC matters due to his health. He has had a number of surgeries over the years and things for him have not been easy as a result. I hope that you will join with me in wishing him an improvement in his health, especially during these trying times.

I hope that those of you who have either the Member’s flag or Ceremonial flag will continue to fly it, particularly during this time of crisis. I’d like to be able to post pictures of such flags flying to show to everyone that we are determined as a club to continue to function. The BEC is truly something to proud of. I know I am. So let us all stand together and move forward.

God Bless the British Ensign Club.

God Save The Queen.

Newsletter #001 - 7th March 2020

To the members of the British Ensign Club, welcome to the first club newsletter! Now that the club has a dedicated website, this is now not only possible, but is going to be a regular event!

It has been a long while since the BEC was first founded on Facebook back in December of 2011. Since then, the BEC membership has grown to over 3800. Thanks to the interest – and input – of you all, the BEC has truly evolved into an organization that we can all be proud of.

As most of you are aware, the BEC is making a move to affiliate to the Fédération Internationale des Associations Vexillologiques (FIAV). In order to be able to formally apply before the deadline at the end of the year, the BEC has to have a physical mailing address, as well as a constitution. As I am the Club Officer acting as secretary, my home address will be serving as the address for BEC correspondence until such as time as I can get a P.O. Box set up.

One of our newly appointed Club Officers – Thomas Morin-Cabana from Quebec, Canada – is working on the constitution. Don’t worry about it being too formal though: Both of our revered founders – James Alcock and Anthony Hathaway-Taylor – are insisting on things being as loose as possible in order to keep the ‘essence’ of the club intact.

I also want to take the time to announce Matthew Taylor’s accession to Club Officer. This is because he is the webmaster of the BEC website. His efforts have resulted in a website that is both informative, and entertaining. He does want as much input from the club membership as possible in order to help enhance the webpage further.

Last January, four BEC members were – after polling the club membership resulted in an overwhelming ‘yes’ vote – awarded the title of Honourary Officer. The BEC honours those members who have made a positive contribution to vexillology in general, and the BEC in particular. John Marwood, Bruce Berry, Jon-Paul Teasdale, and Rodney Tyson were the first honourees. This means of thanking those who have ‘gone the extra mile’ will be done twice a year (Queen’s Birthday and New Year’s). If anyone wishes to nominate someone, post your nominee’s name and the reason why he/she should be honoured on the BEC Facebook Group page.

In June 2020, I will be attending the 54^th annual conference of the North American Vexillological Association in St. Augustine, Florida, USA. As I am a NAVA member, this is not big news, but in this case, I will be attending as the BEC’s first official representative to any Flag conference/congress. Anthony Hathaway-Taylor has informed me that he will be writing my formal Letters of Credence (credentials) for presentation to NAVA-54. I look forward to doing that, as well as presenting my paper that describes how our flags and emblems came about. I’ve already posted the first draft on the BEC Facebook group page, and I’d like you folks to look it over. I want this paper to be concise and I don’t want anyone who was involved in some way left out. This is a part of our history.

On a more serious note, I regret to inform you all that trolls have been doing their little ‘work’ on our Facebook group page. Anthony and I have already had to remove two for their provocative and insulting posts. While debate and discussion are always welcomed – and this does include constructive criticism – people who snipe, insult, abuse, or threaten on the BEC page will be removed from the membership list. Let’s keep things upbeat, folks.

I think this will do for now as I don’t want to bore you all to death. For now, I want to thank you all for being in the BEC, for your inputs, opinions, photos, and constructive criticisms. If you want anything added to subsequent newsletters, just drop me a line on the Facebook PM. Until next time, have a wonderful time wherever you are.

God Bless the British Ensign Club.

God Save the Queen.