BEDFORDSHIRE FLAG & BEDFORDSHIRE DAY

BEDFORDSHIRE FLAG

Resident’s may have become aware of a new flag flying at The Coffee Tavern; this flag is the official Bedfordshire Flag. The flag is flown to promote pride and recognition for the county of Bedfordshire.

The flag is made up of three main elements which contribute to the overall design of the flag:

1. The red and yellow quadrants which come from the coat of arms of the Beauchamp family, who were a prominent family in the county after the Norman conquest. They also constructed Bedford Castle and were granted a barony at Bedford.
2. The vertical black stripe which takes the center of the flag containing three shells, or escallops. This comes from the coat of arms of the Duke of Bedford.
3. The horizontal blue and white wavy lines represent the river Great Ouse which passes through the county.

BEDFORDSHIRE DAY: 28TH NOVEMBER

In addition to the flying of the Bedfordshire flag, there is now an official Bedfordshire day, celebrated annually on the 28th November; the anniversary of the birth a local figure, John Bunyan. John Bunyan was an English writer and Baptist preacher, educated at Bedford School. He is best remembered for The Pilgrim's Progress, other authors influenced by John Bunyan include Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, Charles Dickens, Louisa May Alcott and George Bernard Shaw. A museum primarily dedicated to the life, times and works of John Bunyan is located in Mill Street Bedford, Bedfordshire.

For more information on Bedfordshire Day, visit The Friends of Bedfordshire website; link: www.friendsofbedfordshire.org.uk