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Councillor defends flying Union Jack outside Flint Castle instead of Welsh flag

24 Nov 2021 3 minute read
Flint Castle, picture by AJ Marshall (CC BY-SA 4.0).

A councillor has defended flying the Union Jack outside Flint Castle instead of the Welsh flag.

Cllr Vicky Perfect, who is also the castle’s Keeper of the Keys, has responded to an online backlash after Wales’ flag was replaced in front of the historic building.

She argued that online reaction had been “strange” because of Flint Castle’s historic links with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, whose 5th Battalion used to be headquartered at the site.

The Red Dragon has proudly fluttered over Flint Castle since St David’s Day 2016, but Union flag was used for Armistice Day.

When he saw this, Welsh independence supporter Paul Stevenson, hit out at Cadw, which is responsible for the castle, following the switch.

He shared a photo on social media of a Union Jack being flown on a flag pole outside the castle.

He has also asked the Welsh Government’s historic environment service, to explain why Wales’ flag was removed and replaced, and if the change will be a “permanent” one.

Flint Castle was the first of a series of castles built during a campaign by King Edward I’s of England to conquer Wales.

The chain of fortresses designed to encircle the north of Wales and oppress the Welsh would later become known as Edward I’s “Iron Ring”.

Cllr Perfect, who also sits on Flint Town Council, told North Wales Live: “If you went there today you will have seen there is no flag flying at all.

“The union flag was taken down this morning. The Welsh flag hasn’t yet been raised again as it had been battered by the weather, having been up all year.

“We’re just waiting for Cadw to send a replacement.”

‘The whole country’ 

She added: “It wasn’t just people from Flint who lost their lives during the two wars. It was the whole of the country (of the UK).

“Therefore it’s only right that we should honour all of the fallen, regardless of whether or not they came from Wales.”

The replacement of the Welsh flag resulted in an online backlash.

Mark Henry told Cadw: “obviously you’re oblivious to the history of these castles if you’re willing to fly this instead of our national flag. Absolute disgrace.”

Flintshire councillor David John Healey said: “Rather than reinforce unity this will spawn a nationalist reaction.”

Pro-independence campaign group YesCymru said: “@cadwwales falling in line with government policy? Shame.”

Another person added: “I thought Wales was going to be spared from the Tory flag-sh***ing agenda on account of Wales having a devolved Government. Has Westminster taken control of Cadw then?”

A Welsh Government spokesperson told Nation.Cymru: “The Union flag was used for Armistice Day and is being taken down today. The Welsh flag which usually flies at Flint Castle has been weather damaged and is being replaced. ”


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Michael Dene Hawkins
Michael Dene Hawkins
2 years ago

It should NOT be there, it is a Welsh Castle and should display a Welsh Flag, a flag that represents Wales.

arthur owen
2 years ago

It certainly is a castle in Wales,whether it is a Welsh castle is much more debatable.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago
Reply to  arthur owen

Then maybe the English should pay for its upkeep then.

David Harking
David Harking
2 years ago
Reply to  arthur owen

Haha England, thanks for the nice castles!

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago
Reply to  arthur owen

They are ours now.

Quornby
Quornby
2 years ago

Ex service pensioner here. The flag should be Welsh. End of.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

It is ‘bigoted’ to oppose symbols of colonialism?

Richard
Richard
2 years ago

Flint is NOT a Welsh Castle at all ! Built to invade and suppress the local Welsh / in reality the Earls of Chester for the King of England as part of his ‘ ring of castles ‘ across and around what was then seen as Gwynedd. To have the flag of the invading nation flying over it is a reminder to we locals as to its past and see by many as a continuing purpose. We need perhaps to ask why the ajacent ( Cadw ) Welsh built Castle at nearby Ewloe doea not have Y Ddraig flying to… Read more »

Paul Reynolds
Paul Reynolds
2 years ago

100%, sir.

Howard Edwards
Howard Edwards
2 years ago

The Union flag is an abomination. It is a symbol of imperialism, especially as the English St George component of it sits on top of the two Celtic components, as if to say
” We’ve colonised you”.
Australia and New Zealand hang on to it on their flags, and this completely disrespects the first nation populations.

Richard
Richard
2 years ago
Reply to  Howard Edwards

I think you may need to pass back the History GCSE i assume you may have.

Paul
Paul
2 years ago

Let me guess… English rule forever, floats your boat…

Paul Reynolds
2 years ago
Reply to  Paul

Just letting a pensioner raise a flag will do for now

I know Plaid never liked the Jews but try to calm down.

Rob
Rob
2 years ago

The Union flag incorporates England, Scotland and Ireland, but does not include Wales. Yet we supposed to be okay with that?

I would argue that the lack of Welsh representation is a bigger insult to the Welshman and women who fought and died for the UK.

Malcolm rj
Malcolm rj
2 years ago
Reply to  Rob

I agree with you i didn’t know that the Welsh people were not represented on the union jack when I was in the army. it’s national discrace that the thousands and thousands of Welsh service personnel that died in the services in the defence of this country are not on the union jack and they are not on the royal standard the other UK country’s embalms are on both wake up Wales

Cai Wogan Jones
Cai Wogan Jones
2 years ago
Reply to  Malcolm rj

Basically, it reflects the traditional view that Wales was conquered and annexed by England. Hence, the representation of England on the Union Jack includes Wales … Pretty offensive to the Welsh and anyone who respects Wales as a distinct nation.

Cog
Cog
2 years ago

Ble mae Grayham?

defaid
defaid
2 years ago
Reply to  Cog

Yn brysur, yn edrych am ei siswrn a’i glud…

Last edited 2 years ago by defaid
Paul
Paul
2 years ago

One day is on too many.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

That’s yourself you are describing you ignorant little roundhead. The far right britnats and their projection. Truly pathetic.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

Does CADW hate the Welsh that much that it ignores the Welsh people who fought in their wars and replaces it with a flag with zero Welsh representation on it?

SiarlB
SiarlB
2 years ago
Reply to  GW Atkinson

It wasn’t Cadw, read the article.

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

Why do we need to use a foreign flag with zero Welsh representation on it during armistice day? Why not just leave the Welsh one there?

SundanceKid
SundanceKid
2 years ago
Reply to  GW Atkinson

Yes. We don’t fly the “Allies'” flags on Armistice Day.

Do the English fly the Welsh flag alongside the union jack to commemorate our war dead (seeing as we are not represented on it)? No.

So, why take our flag down and fly theirs? It’s disrespectful to our own fallen soldiers!

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
2 years ago

What an patronising attitude from that Flint councillor Vicky Perfect.. Her reasoning was full of empty rhetoric and lame excuses She might be Perfect but there’s so many flaws in her argument. She stated that there were not just Welsh soldiers who fought during both world wars, then basically slighted all the ones who were injured & died fighting by removing the Y Ddraig Goch replacing it with a Union Flag that didn’t even represent Wales. Looks like she’s a bit lacking in certain departments Also, I’d ask her a question. Is the Welsh flag being flown from buildings &… Read more »

Richard
Richard
2 years ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

Wow – a revision of reality – just not true mate 👍🏼

Dai
Dai
2 years ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

Doesn’t sound to me like her loyalties are divided! You are completely right to highlight her hypocrisy in flying a flag that does not represent the country of those soldiers from Wales who gave their lives.

Mr Williams
Mr Williams
2 years ago

Yes Cllr Perfect, how rude of us to not enjoy waving a flag that snubs us!

Grayham Jones
2 years ago

No English flags in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 we in wales have got to stop being little Englanders and and be proud to be welsh kick all English party’s out of wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 start fighting for your children and grandchildren future in wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 it’s time for a new wales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

GW Atkinson
GW Atkinson
2 years ago

Viva Gareth Bale, viva Gareth Bale, said he had a badback f the union jack, viva Gareth Bale.

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