Fly and Parade the Flag

Following an affiliation between the Company and HMS Mersey, the Commanding Officer, Lt. Cdr. Al Wilson RN, indicated to the Master that it would be possible to fly the Company Heraldic flag from the ship’s yardarm. As a result the flag and banner makers, Newton Newton, of Burgh-Le-Marsh, Lincolnshire, were asked to design a rectangular flag from the Company’s Coat of Arms. This they did by taking the design from the shield, leaving out all other elements. This design was approved as being heraldically correct by the Rouge Dragon Pursuivant of the College of Arms. He confirmed that the sword and scales had to overlie at least part of both the ermine and the checked area.

At the same time the Court decided to acquire a Ceremonial Flag. These have been used by certain Liveries for centuries, and were originally flown on ceremonial barges as they rowed the Lord Mayor up the Thames to be sworn in. However, once the embankment was built the current was too strong to row against the stream, and the Lord Mayor’s procession became land based, although the vehicles accompanying the Show are still called “floats.” Livery flags are paraded on other suitable occasions, and are usually displayed whenever the Master is personally present at his Livery functions. An extract from the Times of 31st January 1833, in relation to the Saddlers’ Company, reads:

“This company gave a most sumptuous and splendid entertaining and ball, on Tuesday evening, to the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, the Lady Mayoress, and a very numerous and fashionable assembly.  The great hall was fitted up most tastefully, the flags and banners of the company being placed round and folding into natural drapery; the orchestra ornamented with trophy flags.”

Our Company’s Ceremonial Flag made its first appearance at the Annual Concert at St. Mary le Bow on 2nd June 2009. It is also rumoured that a Livery burgee has been spotted flying from a river launch somewhere in England!

Chris Gardner
Court Assistant