COULD I please take this opportunity to clear up what was written about our flags because it did contain factual errors and I would not want your readers to be misled.

The flag of England is the flag of St George and most certainly is not the Union Flag.

Commonly known by it's naval name of Union'Jack', the flag of the Union represents the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which is our nation state. This consists of four constituent countries - England, Scotland and Wales (which makes up Great Britain) and Northern Ireland.

Each country within the Union has it's own flag to represent that country, except Northern Ireland who's only official flag is the flag of the Union. However, the cross of St George with the coat of arms is often used to represent Northern Ireland in sports competitions.

Flags within the Union - England: cross of St George, Scotland: cross of St Andrew, Wales: red Dragon, Northern Ireland: Union Jack

The Union Jack itself is made up of the cross of St George (England), the cross of St Andrew (Scotland) and the cross of St Patrick (Ireland - no longer a member of the Union).

Chris Allison

(by e-mail)

MRS Shuck is mistaken regarding the Union flag.

The flag represents the United Kingdom with the English St George cross, the Scottish saltire and the red saltire to represent St Patrick and Ireland.

Wales has no explicit recognition in the flag because Wales had been annexed by Edward I of England in 1282.

The St George's flag represents the country of England and hence is flown when a sporting team plays, just as one only ever sees a saltire when Scotland compete and a dragon when the Welsh play.

It is also incorrect to refer to the flag as the Union 'Jack', it is only ever referred to as that when it is flown as a jack, a small flag flown at the bow of a ship.

Other nations are proud of their national flag, let us continue to wave the St George with pride!

James Edwards

Rednal

DOES Mrs Shuck not realise the Union 'Jack' is the flag of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland?

The white flag with the red cross of St George is indeed the only flag of England. Please watch the next Commonwealth Games, Mrs Shuck, and see the victorious English athletes and what flag they are waving.

Mrs Shuck says she is not a sports fan and proves this is so, by saying that Scotland, Wales and Ireland will be flying their flag. Does she not know that these countries did not even qualify for the World Cup finals?

My only regret is that most people who fly the St George's flag do not do so on St George's day. Most probably don't even know that it is April 23, which co-incidentally happens to also be the birthdate of one William Shakespeare. We should be as proud to celebrate our patron saint as for instance the Irish are.

Frank Allen

Droitwich Spa

I FEEL this lady has totally missed the meaning of the Union flag, the operative word being union!

The flag was comprised in 1606, of the emblem of England (red cross) Ireland (white cross) superimposed on the blue of Scotland, thus representing the union of two realms under one king, when James VI of Scotland became James I of England and Wales.

Therefore English football supporters are flying the English flag because they were the only members of the United Kingdom to qualify for the World Cup finals.

M Woodman

Bromsgrove

UNION flags do indeed seem to be in the minority at the moment - however, I was surprised that anyone would not realise the St George's Cross is the centuries-old flag of England - and not some once-a-year novelty bunting!

The Union flag is of course the flag of the United Kingdom. The biggest clue is in the flag's name, but if one looks at it one can also readily see it is a combination of the red cross from the English flag, together with the white saltire and blue background of the Scottish flag (the red diagonals of course date from the erstwhile union with Ireland).

So take heart, Mrs Shuck, all the supporters of the English football team are indeed flying the flag of England, and will doubtless be flying the Union Flag the next time there is a British team competing in a big competition. I'm sure all the readers will agree it is very sporting of us as a nation to so often divide our talent amongst four teams, so that other countries might have a chance to win!

Peter Collier

Blackwood Road

Bromsgrove

I WONDER if Mrs M Shuck is English? If she is, she exposes an appalling ignorance of her national flag.

The flag of St George (red cross on a white ground) is the flag of England. The Union flag is, as the name implies, the flag of the union of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, all superimposed.

It seems that Mrs Shuck has some homework to do.

BDA Woolley,

Droitwich Spa

THIS lady should realise the St. George's cross flag is not just for St George's Day it is the English flag.

The Union flag is the flag of the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland. The other countries in the union will not be flying their flags as they are not in the World Cup.

Frances Quinn

Cutnall Green

I AM amazed at the cheek in asking why we are not flying the Union flag?

The Union flag is the flag of the United Kingdom - not the flag of England. England's flag is the St George's cross as all the cars and pubs will testify.

The English, in the absence of any sense of English-ness until recently, have long equated England with Britain. Mrs Shuck's letter merely perpetuates this myth.

Alan Gilmour

Evertons Close

Droitwich Spa