CREDITON town centre will come alive from tomorrow, Sunday, May 29, with a collection of handmade brightly coloured flags, each one individually designed to represent a shop or community group.
“The flags have become an integral part of summer in Crediton,” said Rosemary Stephenson, who coordinates the annual project for Crediton Town Team.
“This year we have not only added nine new flags to our collection, but thanks to extra support from the Town Council and the National Lottery we’ve been able to make 100 metres of gorgeous bunting to decorate the town square for the Jubilee.”
The Flag Project started in 2013 as a one-off event to adorn the town during the Crediton Festival. But it proved so popular that it has run every year since.
“We wanted to brighten up the town with some striking artwork which would celebrate the diversity of its commercial and cultural life,” explains Rosemary. “Rather than buying printed flags we were inspired by the Moretonhampstead Flag Festival to involve the community in making our own.
“We had no idea when we started this project that we would still be making flags 10 years later. In the first year we made 40 flags and we have added to our collection every year. Of course the flags become worn and damaged by the weather, so each year we have to repair or replace some of them.
“This year we’ve repaired 30 flags, while nine shops and groups have made new flags. Some, such as Sustainable Crediton and Sarah’s Barbers, have replaced their worn flags. Others, such as the Ship and Crediton Youth Club have joined the project for the first time.”
The flags are made from colourful ripstop nylon, offcuts supplied by a hot air balloon company. Each one is individually designed to represent a shop or group, with the help of local artist Charlotte Turner, who has been the creative director since the project started.
“I feel very blessed to have been a part of this project for all these years,” said Charlotte. “It’s a real highlight in the year for so many of us who work really hard to make it all run smoothly.”
Every weekend since Easter, Charlotte has been running flag making workshops at the White Room Creative Space on Lords Meadow Industrial Estate.
“Each participant attended a one-to-one design session where Charlotte helped them turn their ideas into a design. A team of amazing volunteers then used these designs to make the flags,” explains Rosemary.
“The flags are quite tricky to make, involving a special sewing technique called reverse appliqué. Each one can take several days to make.”
This year the Town Team wanted to involve more people in the project as well as decorate the town square for the various Jubilee celebrations.
Working with Kenwyn Care Home, Charlotte and activity coordinator Lizzie Batley helped the residents to create some celebratory designs. These were then transformed into 48 mini bunting flags at workshops held over several days at Colebrooke Parish Hall.
“We hope some of the residents will be able to enjoy the bunting at their special Jubilee Cream Tea event in the town square on June 3.”
The flags will be installed tomorrow, Sunday, May 29 and the bunting will go up two days later.
The Town Team is especially grateful to the Town Council for its financial support, to the Rotary Club of Crediton Boniface for installing and taking down the flags and to the brilliant team of volunteer flag makers.
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