Armed Forces Day

Today, Armed Forces Day, we fly the White Ensign and the RAF Ensign (we don't have enough pole for the Army as well) to commemorate the service and sacrifice of Britain's Servicemen and women. (SW)

Happy 100th Birthday, Alan Turing

Today is the centenary of the birth of the father of computer science and artificial intelligence. During World War II, he worked at Bletchley Park, devising techniques for breaking German naval messages coded by Enigma machines. AW

An Emperor Dethroned

Today in 1815 the dreams of European domination by the French tyrant Napoleon were truly 'blown apart' by British, Prussian and Dutch armies at Waterloo. He escaped death on the battlefield but was condemned to exile for the rest of his years. We fly an early Red Ensign (similar to British infantry regiment colours) over the Tricolour to commemorate this historic day. SW

HM Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee

"Every inch a Queen, every foot a ruler", as Shakespeare didn't quite put it, sadly doesn't travel well into the metric age. Anyway, congratulations to our monarch, only the second to make it to a Diamond Jubilee. The Royal Standard is flying over all the extended weekend to mark the celebrations. On Sunday it was joined by the three lions of England and on Monday by a red ensign RNLI pennant. AW

The Glorious First of June

We commemorate the victory in 1794 of Lord Howe’s fleet over the French fleet, 400 miles west of Ushant,  and known subsequently as the Glorious First of June. Prize money for captured vessels distributed between Royal Navy crews was equivalent to £18 million in today’s money! (SW)