Moray Chamber of Commerce and Visit Moray Speyside give support to area's search for a new flag
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TWO prominent Moray organisations have given full backing to a competition to design a new flag for the area.
Moray Chamber of Commerce and Visit Moray Speyside are both backing the push for a new Moray flag, which it is hoped will help promotion the region.
The competition to design a new flag for Moray – running alongside a competition to create a flag for Banffshire – launched on Monday, February 27.
The launch came after a visit to the area by vexillologist Phillip Tibbetts, who completed a tour of more than 10 local schools and clubs.
Entries will be accepted for both competitions until Friday, March 24.
Sarah Medcraf, chief executive of Moray Chamber, said: "The prospect of Moray getting its own flag is really exciting.
"The competition will bring communities and creativity together and our end result will be something that we can collectively get behind.
"I hope that this process and final flag design will instil a sense of pride across Moray and it can be used by everyone to promote the region."
Similar backing was given by Gemma Cruickshank, chief executive of Visit Moray Speyside.
She added: "This competition is going to offer Moray an identity and is a great way to show your passion for the region.
"We hope that this competition will encourage and inspire locals, businesses, and people with a general interest in Moray to enter and create your very own flag that can identify as the Moray flag.
"This is your time to show what Moray means to you."
How does the competition work?
People anywhere in the world are able to enter the competition, with entries having come in from as far afield as Argentina in the competition's first weeks.
Once the March 24 deadline is passed, the entries – expected to be well into the hundreds – will be whittled down to between four and six entries per lieutenancy area by an expert panel. This is expected to be done at the end of April.
A winner for each area will then be chosen by the public, with contest winners to be invited to do the flag-raising honours at a launch event in both areas in late summer.
How do I enter?
Packs can be picked up from The Northern Scot office on South Street in Elgin (Monday-Friday, 9.30am until 2.30pm), Moray Council's Annexe in Elgin and Aberdeenshire Council Town House on Banff's Low Street.
To download the packs digitally, visit www.lordlieutenantbanffshire.co.uk/banffshire-flag or www.lordlieutenantmoray.co.uk.
Both digital and paper submissions will be collected by The Northern Scot. These can be handed into the Scot office, posted to 74-76 South Street, Elgin, IV30 1JG, or sent to countyflags@hnmedia.co.uk
