OUR counties The Association of British Counties Annual 2012 www.abcounties.co.uk Patrons: Russell Grant Esq. Peter Luff MP John Randall MP Andrew Rosindell MP Angela Watkinson MP ABC is a non-political, non-profit organisation dedicated to the preservation of our historic counties. 2 The Association of British Counties President: Michael Bradford Chairman: Peter Boyce Vice-chairman: Rupert Barnes Treasurer: Tim Butterworth Want to Get Involved in ABC? ABC is an entirely voluntary organisation. We need as many active members as possible. If you want Government Statement 1974: to get involved, contact the chairman at [email protected]. There is a lot of work to be “The new county boundaries are for done nationally such as: administrative areas and will not alter Lobbying the government and heritage the traditional boundaries of counties, organisations for proper recognition; nor is it intended that the loyalties of Encouraging UK tourism bodies to make better people living in them will change.” use of the counties; Lobbying for changes to local government terminology to make clear the distinction between counties and local government; From the Editor: Lobbying the Dept. of Transport for the proper I hope you will be as pleased as I am about the provision for road signs marking historic new format of the Association of British Counties county borders; magazine, now renamed “Our Counties” and made Working on IT and publishing projects to all-colour. I also hope that this will help to inspire our further the use of counties; members to do more to preserve and promote our Working with address management software counties and also to introduce new and future suppliers to enable the proper use of county members to what it is we do. Remember: this names in postal addresses; magazine is for all of us and if it is to continue people Dealing with public and media questions about need to contribute articles, poems, ideas or whatever the counties. they can. Alternatively, there is vital work to be done at local 2012 is a very exciting year for Britain with the level, too. For example: Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympic Games in London Developing and promoting county flags; which I am very excited to be attending. We need to Instigating and promoting a county day; take our chance now to advance our cause and make Working with local authorities to erect county our fellow Britons aware of their intrinsic county border signs; heritage. Lobbying the local/national media to get references to your county correct; ABC Member’s Meeting Encouraging local businesses and residents to We had a very successful members’ meeting use the county name within their address; last October at The Link in Water Orton, Producing educational material about your Warwickshire, B46 1QU. Several people did insightful county. talks some of which you can read here. We are hoping You could also get involved with one of our member to do something similar this year and the meeting is to organisations: be held at the same venue on Saturday the 13th of Friends of Real Lancashire www.forl.co.uk October 2012. If you would like to give a presentation Yorkshire Ridings Society www.yorkshireridings.org please contact Peter at [email protected]. Saddleworth White Rose Society Further details will be sent to members nearer the www.whiterose.saddleworth.net time and are also available on our website. Oxfordshire www.oxfordshire-association.org.uk Sussex www.sussexassociation.webs.com Editor: Mari Foster Cover Photos (clockwise from top left): Dunnet Editorial Address: 340 Warrington Road, Glazebury, Head, Caithness; Hadrian’s Wall (Willowford) at Warrington, Lancashire, WA3 5LB Gilsland, Cumberland; Omagh Town Hall, County E-mail: [email protected] Tyrone; Caerphilly Castle, Glamorgan. 3 Caernarfonshire: www.caernarfonshire.org Saxon heptarchies. The Sussex Association, with the Westmorland: www.westmorland-association.org.uk support of ABC, has been supplying a flag to every Monmouthshire: www.monmouthshire-association.org.uk parish and town council in Sussex. It has been doing Huntingdonshire: www.huntingdonshire.org.uk this in tandem with promoting the celebration of Warwickshire: www.facebook.com/warksassoc Sussex Day on 16 June. As with Westmorland, the association has received many positive responses to If your county does not have a group in the the initiative. Sussex Day 2012 should see the flag above list, why not think about setting up your own flying proudly throughout the county. ABC “county association”. Even a very small group A Buckinghamshire flag has been registered by can make a big impact on a county’s profile so if you the flag institute also on the grounds that it is a think your county needs promotion, get organising. traditional flag of the county. It features a chained We are always on the lookout for fresh, swan on a bicolour of red and black. The Swan innovative ideas for reaching out to people and emblem dates back to Anglo-Saxon times when getting our message across! Buckinghamshire was known for breeding swans for the king. New County Flags Registered County flags are a brilliant way to promote a During 2011, five further county flags were county’s identity throughout that county and beyond. registered with the Flag Institute and included in their The designs also make a great basis for car stickers, flag register (www.flaginstitute.org). Registration is mugs, key-rings, etc. Currently, 23 counties have important since it brings general recognition to a flag registered flags. We are working with the Flag and, importantly, means that commercial flag Institute to develop further flags. suppliers will supply the flag at a reasonable cost. The new Monmouthshire flag was promoted by Caernarfonshire Association Set Up the Monmouthshire Association Yet another new ABC affiliate county and is based on the reputed arms association has been established this time in of the Ancient British Kingdom of Caernarfonshire. The association has the following Gwent. The Monmouthshire aims: Association has a limited supply To see the flag officially recognised by the Flag of these flags available at no cost. Institute and to promote its use in the county; They are for any organisation or To promote the use of the historic county; individual in the county who To encourage the media and local governments wishes to fly one. Please contact: (such as Gwynedd Council and Conwy [email protected] Borough Council) to make correct use of the if you are interested. county name and its boundaries; In Nottinghamshire, the flag was the result of a To see Caernarfonshire signage erected around competition run by BBC Nottingham. The final design the county just as it exists in Montgomeryshire, was made up of elements from the many entries sent Radnorshire, and Breconshire. to the station for consideration. A major flag supplier The Association is has confirmed that there has been a huge demand for currently promoting its flag, the flag and it seems set to become a familiar feature three gold eagles on a green throughout the county. field, which is the banner of The new Westmorland flag was promoted by arms attributed to Owain the Westmorland Association and is based on the coat Gwynedd and has long been a of arms of the former Westmorland County Council. symbol of the county. Following the flag’s registration, it was featured in the The Caernarfonshire Association can be found Westmorland Gazette. We purchased 100 flags and on Facebook and also has a stunning website at: distributed them to town and parish councils, castles, www.caernarfonshire.org. stately homes, clubs and societies, etc. throughout the county. Early indications are that the flag is catching Local county organisations are the lifeblood of on fast, with many of those we supplied to expressing ABC. Whilst ABC can lobby centrally for changes to thanks and with a promise to fly the flag. We have local government terminology, traffic sign also had numerous other enquiries. regulations, etc., the greatest positive impact can be Sussex’s flag was promoted by the Sussex made by a group within the county. Promoting a flag Association and registered on the grounds that is a and a county day are just two tried and trusted traditional design. It dates back to at least the 17th c. methods of making an impact. We are always keen to when John Speed displayed the design in his book see new county associations set up. Please contact the ‘Theatrum Imperii Maganae Britanniae’ as one of the chairman if you are interested in doing so. 4 County Identity in Relation to National Identity Philip S. Tibbetts Identity has always been a major issue for this perceived competition with national identity. humanity whether it is religious, linguistic, social, Certain county identity elements have been forgotten legal or national. However, the 21st century has seen a when overshadowed by this emphasis on national whole new range of dilemmas facing our concept of identity. Sometimes entire areas are put at cultural identity. At a time when the population of planet risk by the administrative meddling of central politics, Earth is tipping seven billion, the sheer scale of the such as the ’overwriting’ of some counties. global populace causes many to fear being lost in the This modern emphasis on state identity is not masses. Furthermore, electronic communication without reason and to be fair it is only sensible for means that we are more likely to know a wider group leaders to try and ensure the stability of the state. of people thus being exposed to more ideas. In turn, However, this appealing looking reason hides a ideologies, philosophies, languages and cultures all number of dangers.