According to the Home Office, as they understand, there is no legislation defining what makes a flag official.

Isles of Scilly Council’s flag

The Council of the Islands have created a flag for Council use, a pennant of which is sold at the Tourist Information Centre. It includes their logo and motto in light blue on a dark blue background.

The motto on the flag is the Council’s motto: “Semper Eadem” which means ‘always the same’. The logo on the flag has the Bishop Lighthouse in the centre, with Star Castle, an old listed building on the Islands, in the top left of the elipse and a daffodil in the top right, one of the most synomonous flowers to the Islands. The logo is based on the chain worn by the Chairman of the Council.

The flag is nicknamed “Old Smiley” because of it’s similarities to a smiling face when observed from a distance.

A Mr Scilley from North Dakota bought the flag from the Tourist Office, for obvious reasons. “It’s surprising,” said Chairman of the Council, Dudley Mumford. “We anticipated interest in the pennant from the likes of visiting yachtsmen but North Dakota…”

“Scillonian Cross”: Unofficial

The Scillonian Cross can be found locally at Rat Bags, online at MrFlag.com and incorporated into clothing at Zazzle.co.uk.

The Scillonian Cross was developed in early 2002 by Scilly News’s readers to represent the Islands.

The Beginning
In late January, we at Scilly News decided to develop a design with the help of the public’s votes. One month, three ballots and 400 votes later, we declared the Scillonian ‘Island’ Cross the most appropriate design.

The Scillonian Cross is a design for the county – please use it as you wish.

The Design
When designing the Scillonian Cross, we were keen to recognise Scilly’s strong Celtic heritage. It is popular belief that Scilly continued it’s Celtic traditions until as recently as 400 years ago. Scilly’s St Lide was a prominent Celtic figure.

The main feature is the central cross that is similar to the Celtic cross (right), celebrating the Islands strong Celtic heritage.

The five pentacles (five-pointed stars) represent the Islands’ location and size. Pentacles are Celtic symbol of protection, which is relevant for the Islands as they have been an important strategic position for Britain’s defenses, especially during the wars with Spain.

White was chosen because it is a strong and symbolic colour, emphasising the properties the cross and stars represent. Some believe it also symbolises ‘purity and innocence’.

The orange represents a fireglow sun set for which Scilly has become famous. The blue represents the oceanic waters that encompass the Islands, which are such an important aspect of Scillonian life.

Flag Construction

• Flag width:height ratio of 2:1.
• White cross [#FFFFFF].
• Horizontal stripe height ratio of 2:1:2 (1/5th).
• Vertical stripe width ratio of 9:2:9 (1/10th).
• ‘Flag’ orange [#FF9A00] in top (hoist and fly).
• Teal-blue [#00309C] in bottom (hoist and fly).
• White stars [#FFFFFF]in right-half of top fly.
• Main-star-width [St Mary's]: width-of-cross ratio of 3:4.
• Other stars placed in approx. positions that the Islands lie, with St Martin’s brought more central.
• Smaller star widths relative to St Mary’s -
  • Tresco 12:20
  • St Martin’s 10:20
  • St Agnes 10:20
  • Bryher 9:20

The Real Flag?

FOTW.net has a design for the ‘Isles of Scilly Flag’. It claims that it is based on the old ‘Board of Ordnance’.

It is thought that this flag was left behind when the Board of Ordnance left the Islands. This is why we still want to develop a flag which is unique to the Islands.

The flag is on display in the Ordnance museum in the Tower of London and formed the basis of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps flag, prior to its disbandment – it now forms an integral part of the Royal Logistics Corps Badge.
Thanks to Melvin Roberts, FOTW.net and Martin Curtis.

BBC Devon Try To Find A Flag For Devon

BBC Devon has lead a similar project, attempting to get some agreement for a flag for Devon.

Dewnans explains why a Devon flag is important – it can be all of the following:
- an easily recognised icon for Devon;
- a representation of Devon’s identity and of its people;
- a symbol for promoting Devon products;
- a symbol to promote tourism to Devon;
- a sign of pride in Devon and being Devonian.

Scilly News had similar aims.