OCTOBER 12, 2024 — The Court’s Vexillologist has finalized the options for Bothwell’s new flag as part of a local competition, with four entries set to be shortlisted.
According to the Flag Institute, public voting will begin later this year, and the winning flag will be unveiled in early 2025. The submission period ended on Sunday, September 29, 2024, with Lyon Court reporting that it took four hours to review the entries, which included a substantial number from local schools.
This initiative is part of the celebrations marking the 625th anniversary of Bothwell Parish Church, according to the Church of Scotland. Rev. Iain Majcher, minister of the parish, expressed hopes that the new flag would celebrate the heritage and culture of the area and become a source of pride. “We hope the new flag will celebrate the heritage and culture of our corner of the country and be a source of pride,” Rev. Majcher said in August.
Phillip Tibbetts, Scotland’s first-ever ‘Honorary Vexillologist’ at Lyon Court and a recognized expert in flags, has also been invited to join the committee overseeing the competition. Mr. Majcher added that the chosen flag will make history, as it will be registered with the Lyon Court and become the official flag of the village. “The flag on our tower is such an iconic image in our village, and it will be a delight to see the new community flag flying,” he said.
The Church of Scotland’s guidelines for the design emphasize that the flag should raise national awareness of the area, express local pride, and celebrate Bothwell’s heritage and culture.
Image: Iain Thompson, CC BY-SA 2.0
