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New Union flag for Repatriation Memorial Garden

A specialist flag manufacturing company has donated a new Union flag for the Repatriation Memorial Garden at Brize Norton.  

Newton Newton started providing flags when repatriation ceremonies were held at Royal Wootton Bassett and continued to do so when the ceremonies moved to Brize Norton in September 2011.   Cllr Norman MacRae, Cabinet Member and Armed Forces Champion at West Oxfordshire District Council said, “Newton Newton has been most generous with the presentation of flag poles and Union Flags both at Wotton Bassett and here at our Memorial Garden, to show support for our fallen troops.  I think I speak not only for West Oxfordshire, but for the entire country, when I offer the company my most sincere thanks for its act of support and recognition.”

The traditionally-made Union flag is the centrepiece of the Memorial Garden which plays host to repatriation ceremonies as they travel from RAF Brize Norton to the John Radcliffe Hospital. The flag is lowered to half-mast for repatriation ceremonies.

Newton Newton also donated the flag pole for the Repatriation Memorial Garden at Brize Norton,  as well as the one that is at Royal Wootton Bassett.

Mr Clifford Newton, founder of the company, said, “As a military family, we are proud to donate to her Majesty’s Armed Forces.”

The Newton family have had military roots since the First World War and established the business in 1975. They are now the UK’s leading flag manufacturer supplying flags and ceremonial banners to all branches of HM Armed services and to national and international government departments and major corporations.

Photographed taking down the old flag and putting up the new one are Cllr Norman MacRae (left) with Bill Oddy, Publica Group Manager.

ENDS

Editors Note:  The location of the Memorial Garden is rightly stated as Brize Norton.  See also the laying up of the first Union Flag in St Britius at
http://www.bncommunity.org/bnchurch.htm