Member Article

Young people challenged to Fly the Flag for the North East

A competition offering the opportunity for school pupils to see their own flag design unfurled on the world’s most famous liner is approaching its close, and schools across the region are being urged to take part. The Fly the Flag for the North East competition is part of the run up to the QE2’s arrival at the Port of Tyne on Sunday 16 September for an overnight stay during her 40th Anniversary Voyage around Britain.

So the hunt is on for a unique regional flag which will fly from the Cunard liner as she approaches the Tyne and throughout her stay in the region. The Fly the Flag for the North East competition challenges school pupils to design a flag which captures the essence of the region, and the winning design will be turned into a full size flag which will be made by Northumberland-based Flags GB Ltd.

Winners of the competition will also visit the Northumberland manufacturing centre of Flags GB Ltd to see their design turned into the finished flag and take a trip on board Cunard’s QE2 to meet her Captain. The competition is open to all Year 7 to Year 9 pupils in schools across the region and the winning school will also receive a copy of the flag signed by the QE2’s Captain.

Barbara McClennan, Chief Executive of Education Business Connections, who are running the competition on behalf of One NorthEast, said: “This really is a once-in-a-life time opportunity for young people to be part of the region’s history and its future. “We expect a high level of entries and with the creativity and flair that we know exists in the region’s young people we know judging will be tough.”

Competition details including rules, entry form and flag design guidelines are available from EBC by logging onto EBC’s website - www.ebcltd.org.uk. The closing date for entries in the Fly the Flag for the North East is Monday June 25 (noon).

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .