Graham Bartram

The Flag Institute is an educational charity headquartered in London, England. It maintains a UK Flag Registry and offers advice and guidance about flags and their usage.

The Institute was formed out of the Flag Section of The Heraldry Society on St George's Day, 23 April 1971, by William Crampton, later President of the International Federation of Vexillological Associations, with Captain E.M.C. Barraclough, CBE RN, as its chairman. It is a membership-based vexillological organisation, and provides advice and assistance to individuals and organisations.

The Institute maintains the William Crampton Library, based in Kingston upon Hull, England and named in honour of its co-founder. It publishes a quarterly 24-page full colour journal, Flagmaster, and a virtual magazine called eFlags. Since 2006 it has sponsored an annual public lecture on a flag-related topic, known as the 'Perrin Lecture'. It holds twice yearly meetings for its members in various locations around the United Kingdom. The Institute itself is governed by a Board of five elected Trustees who are advised by an appointed Council of members.

In May 2011 the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles said:

Let me start by congratulating the Flag Institute on its first 40 years. 40 years as a respected source of help and advice. Not only to the UK Government, but to the United Nations and other organisations around the world. 40 years of bringing together enthusiasts, educating the public, and spreading knowledge.....The UK is very lucky in having – in the Institute – a group of dedicated and informed people who do a great deal to make sure that that respect is given. In your first 40 years you have established your credentials not just in this country, but on the world stage.

Following a postal ballot of members, the Institute became a charity at its annual general meeting in Worcester on Saturday 17 November 2012.

Constitution

The Flag Institute's constitution states that its objectives are;

• to maintain its role as the United Kingdom's recognised flag organisation;
• to unite all those with a professional or personal interest in any aspect of flags and vexillology;
• to educate and increase public awareness of flags and their usage;
• to provide advice and guidance on flags and related matters to the public and organisations, both governmental and non-governmental;
• to promote the study of the history, function, usage, symbolism and development of flags of all kinds; and the development of flag terminology, standards of usage, specifications, colours and descriptive terms.

Under the supervision of their Chief Vexillologist Graham Bartram, the Institute keeps a registry of flags for the countries, regions and counties of the UK. Flag designs with which its officers have been involved include those for the badge and ensign of the UK Border Agency and the flag of the UK Supreme Court.

Until early 2010 the national flag of the United Kingdom was only flown from the Houses of Parliament when Parliament was actually sitting, and when the Houses rose it was taken down and the flagpole left bare. The Flag Institute with the Flags and Heraldry Committee campaigned to see the flag flown permanently, to signify the enduring sovereignty of Parliament and to act as the foremost flag of the kingdom, day and night every day of the year. In early 2010 Black Rod agreed that this should be so and since then the flag has flown all the time.

This change was marked by a lunchtime reception on Tuesday 22 March 2011 in the River Room, House of Lords, hosted by Admiral The Baron West of Spithead and Andrew Rosindell, MP.

On 14 May 2011 at the Flag Institute Spring Meeting, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, Eric Pickles, announced his intention to liberalise flag flying regulations in the UK. The resulting discussion paper titled Liberalising the regime for flying flags was published by DCLG in January 2012. New regulations were laid before Parliament on 17 September 2012 and came into force on 12 October 2012.

Charles Ashburner, Chief Executive of the Flag Institute, said;

This really is a new Freedom to Fly Flags. In our super fast world of instant news and ever changing technology, flags remain the ultimate symbol of identity. The deregulation of flag flying regulations is something which everyone who believes in freedom of expression should support. [This is] an important step towards encouraging and protecting the huge variety of different community and individual identities of which British society should be so proud.

In 2010 the Flag Institute, with the Parliamentary Flags and Heraldry Committee, published a guide to Britain’s flag protocol, Flying Flags in the United Kingdom (ISBN 978-0-9513286-1-3).