Flag of Bedfordshire

Flag of Bedfordshire
Proportion	3:5
Adopted	11 September 2014

Bedfordshire

The Bedfordshire flag is the flag of the county of Bedford, registered with the Flag Institute on 11 September 2014.

Design

The flag comprises red and gold quarters split horizontally by blue and white waves and vertically with a black band containing three white shells. The red and gold quarters are from the arms of the Beauchamps, the leading family in the county after the Norman Conquest. The waves signify the River Great Ouse, and the shells are from the arms of the Russell Family, commemorating their services to the state and to the county. The flag originated as the armorial banner of the former county council, now defunct. Thus, although a relatively recent creation, composed in 1951, the design subsumes centuries of local tradition and the same design features in the badges, crests, logos and insignia of a myriad Bedfordshire organisations. Upon registration the design was slightly modified by transposing the blue and white wavy lines on the left to ensure that yellow does not touch white and red does not touch blue, thus ensuring better contrast and visibility. The blue is also a lighter hue to stand out better where it touches the black central panel. The flag was registered as a result of a brief campaign by the Friends of Bedfordshire Society, spearheaded by Luke Blackstaffe, which secured the support of the county's High Sheriff.

Outside links

• Flag Institute
• Friends of Bedfordshire Society