Last month, I attended the unveiling of the new Bothwell Flag. I very much support this new flag. Civic symbols are great for creating a sense of community. Municipalities across Europe and North America really identify with their local symbols such as arms and flags — and display them prominently. This flag is hopefully something all the people, companies, institutions and elected representatives of Bothwell can get behind.
Four finalists were shortlisted by representatives from Bothwell Community Council, Bothwell Futures, Bothwell Parish Church, Bothwell Scarecrow Fest, the Lanarkshire Lieutenancy, the Flag Institute, St Bride’s & Bothwell primary schools and the Lord Lyon King of Arms. The competition was well-managed with the help of Philip Tibbetts, March Pursuivant of Arms Extraordinary and Honorary Vexillologist at the Court of the Lord Lyon. The designs were then put to a public vote online and in-person at the Church.
The winning design was created by Ava McBain, an 11 year old pupil at Muiredge Primary School. It represents the Clyde flowing down the west of the village, with a red sandstone turret for Bothwell Castle. The colours are picked from the colours of the village’s two primary schools.
You can watch here as the flag is raised for the first time above Bothwell Parish Church, the tallest point in the village.
The flag is issued under a royal warrant “for, and on behalf of, the people of Bothwell” and is free for anyone with connection to the village to use.
See also:
- Schoolgirl Ava triumphs in Bothwell flag design contest — Daily Record/Hamilton Advertiser, 14th Jan 2025, Judith Toner
- School girl designs new flag for historic Scottish village — The Scotsman, 15th Jan 2025, Cameron Brooks
- Bothwell Flag unveiled — The Flag Institute
- Bothwell Flag – Flying Colours Flagmakers
- Bothwell – VexiWiki
Cllr Cal Johnston-Dempsey 