WWI Battle of Jutland anniversary

Today we commemorate the greatest clash of Dreadnought battleships at the battle of Jutland off the coast of Denmark on 31 May 1916. The Royal Navy's White Ensign flies over the Imperial German Navy Ensign.

Farewell Ark Royal

The decommissioned former HMS Ark Royal leaves Britain today for scrapping in Turkey, leaving the Royal Navy without a carrier to deploy high performance aircraft for the first time since it invented the “flat top” concept nearly 100 years ago. A sad day, hence the flag is at half-mast.

Battle of the Atlantic 70th anniversary

There's a memorial service in St Paul's Cathedral today to honour the merchant sailors who sacrificed their lives in the Battle of the Atlantic 70 years ago. We're marking the occasion by flying the White and Red Ensigns, for the Royal Navy and the Merchant Navy, respectively.

The Eagle has Landed

We're having a break from the Olympic flag today to mark the fact that Curiosity has safely landed on Mars. AW

Day 1 of the 30th Olympiad - good luck, Team GB! We rang our ship's bell like crazy at 8.12am to participate in Martin Creed's Work No 1197 Work No 1197 - All the Bells in a Country Rung as Quickly and as Loudly as Possible for Three Minutes. It was fun. Sorry, neighbours. AW

He Wears a Yellow Jersey

We're cheering on Bradley Wiggins, who's really showing his mettle ahead of the pack in the Tour de France General Classification. Show 'em how it's done, Brad! And a Brit at No. 2 as well - Chris Froome. Historic. AW

Independence Day

We commemorate the USA’s Independence Day by flying the “Star-spangled Banner” on 4th July. Its stripes represent the original thirteen states who, perhaps unwisely, eschewed the benefits of being subjects of the British Crown in 1776. As you peer through the cool, dank, overcast, misty drizzle of Sherenden Park in Wimbledon fortnight, spare a thought for the million Americans still without power (and air conditioning) in 41 degrees Celsius days after the violent, heatwave-induced storms of last weekend. SW