Last modified: 2010-12-29 by rob raeside
Keywords: shetland islands | scotland | united kingdom | cross: scandinavian |
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image by Marcus Schmöger, 15 August 2001
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The idea of the design was as follows: "Wishing to give equal symbolic weight to the fact that Shetland had been part of Norway for 500 years and part of Scotland for 500 years, we took the national colours of Scotland - blue and white - and inserted them into the offset cross design common to all Scandinavian countries."
For public relations the "Shetland Flag Society" was formed, and first day covers as well as vignettes with the flag were printed. However these could not be posted at the Post Office in Lerwick, Shetland's capital; therefore much of the wanted publicity was lost. Inspiration for the design of the flag stemmed from the fact, that also the Faroese flag had been designed by three Faroese students. From 1889 until 1975 there existed two local government bodies in the Shetlands, the Lerwick Town Council and the Zetland County Council (ZCC). The ZCC had its own flag, that flew when meetings were held. In 1975 the two councils were combined into the Shetland Islands Council (SIC).
Grönneberg wanted to establish his design as the official flag of the SIC; however, in a working group of five people (including Grönneberg), no decision was taken. A ballot proposed in 1985 on this issue never materialized.
On the actual use Grönneberg writes: "Although the blue and white flag is not officially recognized either by the United Kingdom government or even the local authority, the Shetland Tourist Office has printed it on its tourist literature for years and has sold thousands of Shetland flags to both locals and visitors alike. During the summer, hundreds of yachts from abroad hoist the Shetland flag at their masthead as a courtesy flag instead of the proper British Red Ensign. Local hotels fly it, the Shetland sports team (which takes part in the inter-island games) flies it, and cars display it. Thus our blue field and white Scandinavian cross design now seems - after a shaky start - to be accepted throughout Shetland."
Two comments:
This flag is definitely in use (though I understand the Scottish heraldic
authority is not happy about it). I have seen several of them on boats in the
harbours here in Norway.
Jan Oskar Engene, 7 March 1996
My understanding is that the Shetland flag has not been formally accepted by
the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the legal authority in Scotland on Heraldry, and as such is not "legal". However, the flag is now widely used by Shetland
people and this use is entirely harmless as is the similar use of the Orkney flag. Indeed, it can be used positively to promote the islands'
identities.
Jim Wallace, Deputy First Minister of Scottish Parliament, as reported
to Jon Scot, 17 January 2002
Hans J Marter, 2 February, 2005
SHETLAND'S flag has been officially sanctioned and can now be flown as a
community flag to represent the islands. Council convener Sandy Cluness has
received confirmation from the Court of the Lord Lyon that the isles'
combination of the Scottish colours and the Scandinavian cross had been
accepted. The news was welcomed by councillors at yesterday executive committee
meeting as it means that the Shetland flag can now officially been used by the
Shetland sport team at the forthcoming International Island Games. The Court of
the Lord Lyon is the heraldic authority for Scotland. It deals with all matters
relating to Scottish Heraldry and Coats of Arms.
contributed by Graeme Storey, 7 February 2005
A similar report in the Shetland Times stated, "The flag will now join the
Union Jack, the saltire and the council's coat of arms as the standard flags
flown above the Town Hall." This implies that one of the standard flags flown
above the Town Hall is the council coat of arms. A banner of arms? Or a shield
on a bedsheet?
André Coutanche, 10 February 2005
Quoting "The Shetland Times", 8 June 2007:
"For the first time ever Midsummer Day on 21st June is being recognised as
Shetland Flag Day, with everyone encouraged to fly the isles' emblem. The day
will coincide with the beginning of Flavour of Shetland, making it a real cause
for celebration. Renowned flag expert and author of Flags of the World, Jos
Poels, will deliver an illustrated short presentation on flags at the new
Shetland Museum and Archives. The talk will have a particular focus on
Scandinavian flags and the Shetland flag. SIC principal marketing officer Neil
Henderson said: "The Shetland flag was designed in 1969 and in February 2005 was
officially sanctioned by the Court of the Lord Lyon as a community flag for the
islands.
[...]
The Shetland flag presentation takes place at 7.30 p.m. (doors 7 p.m.) at the Shetland
Museum and Archives. It is a free event and no advance booking is required."
Source:
http://www.shetlandtoday.co.uk/Shetlandtimes/content_details.asp?ContentID=22495.
Ivan Sache, 11 June 2007
image by Marcus Schmöger, 15 August 2001
image located by António Martins-Tuválkin
Originally from www.wxs.nl (no longer available) - see also www.ngw.nl/int/gbr/scot/shetland.htm
A google on "Shetland coat of arms" gives
www.irvinehistory.com/William%20Irvine/Jenny/Shetland_Logo.jpg, which
differs from that shown above in (a) not having the raven on the sail, and (b)
having a rose-and-crown crest instead of a dolphin crest. However, the website
of Shetland Islands Council (www.shetland.gov.uk/)
shows the coat of arms exactly as it appears on
www.ngw.nl/int/gbr/scot/shetland.htm, so this must be definitive.
André Coutanche, 10 February 2005
The Shetland islands belong to the United Kingdom. Formerly, they were a
part of the kingdom of Norway and this is probably why the Scandinavian cross
design was adopted. The islands were annexed by Scotland in 1472. During World
War II people escaping from Norway landed in the islands because they are the
part of the United Kingdom closest to Norway.
Jan Oskar Engene, 7 March 1996
image by Ivan Sache, 7 July 2008
The flag is described on the Forvik "official website" as follows:
"The
Forvik flag uses as its background the white cross on blue background of the
Shetland flag. This is to emphasise the fact that Forvik is intended to provide
a model on which Shetland could work. The shield contains the rampant lion of
Norway (without crown), holding aloft a legal scroll. The motto 'Með løgum skal
land biggja' is that used by the Shetland Islands Council. It is in old Norse
and means 'With laws the land will be built'. [...]"
http://shetlandconversation.squarespace.com/the-flag
The flag
graphic shown on the "official" website is in proportions 2:3 (like the Shetland
flag) but the real flag hoisted by Stuart Hill is more elongated, rather in
proportions 1:2.
Ivan Sache, 7 July 2008
Here's a capture from a series of TV programmes called 'Martin Clunes Islands
of Britain' which was broadcast on the ITV network in the U.K. in May of this
year (2009). The metal 'flag' is 'flying' from a pole on Forvik. The website of
Stuart Hill, the man who 'owns' Forvik, is at
www.forvik.com/. An 'opposition' website is at
www.forvik.net/. What seems to me to be a
balanced account is at
http://shetlopedia.com/Forvik_Island.
So it is a
flag and it is flown. It is made of metal rather than cloth.
André
Coutanche, 13 September 2009