The Scottish Flag Trust

The judging panel for the proposed new civic flag for East Lothian have agreed four flag designs to go forward to a public vote. Every one, irrespective of area of residence, is eligible to vote. The deadline for voting is 31 August 2018.
To vote electronically go to the East Lothian Council website.
To vote by post complete […]

A public exhibition, The Story of St Andrew and the Saltire, was officially opened by Cabinet Secretary Fergus Ewing MSP on Tuesday 31 October.
The exhibition, which has been promoted by the Trust in association with East Lothian Council Museums, is being held in the John Gray Centre, Haddington, and admission is free. Opening hours are […]

An open competition to design a new and distinctive civic flag for East Lothian is being formally launched on 28 November. This initiative is being jointly promoted by East Lothian Council and the Scottish Flag Trust, in association with the Lord Lyon.
Anyone is free to enter, and the competition is likely to attract a great […]

30 October 2017 – 30 January 2018
Much of the work of the Scottish Flag Trust during 2017 has been in preparation for a major public exhibition entitled East Lothian – Birthplace of Scotland’s Flag: The Story of St Andrew and the Saltire. The exhibition is to be in the John Gray Centre Gallery, Haddington, and […]

The Trustees of the Scottish Flag Trust were delighted that the Lord Lyon King of Arms, Dr Joseph Morrow QC, accepted their invitation to give a talk during the 2016 Saltire Festival.
The illustrated talk, entitled The Significance of the Saltire in Scottish Heraldry, was held in the Star Room in the John Gray Centre, Haddington […]

The annual service to celebrate Scotland’s patron saint was held in Athelstaneford Church on the Sunday preceding St Andrew’s Day. The theme of the Rev Joanne Boiten-Evans’s service was to encourage everyone in the congregation to imagine what St Andrew would actually have looked like, given there are no contemporary images of the man. This […]

Athelstaneford Church hosted its annual St Andrew Service on Sunday 29 November.   But inclement weather meant that at the end of the service the congregation remained inside the Church for the singing of the Saltire Anthem and the blessing of the Saltire, rather than stand before the Memorial in the Churchyard while the flag was […]

The Flag Trust has joined forces with the newly formed East Lothian Community Rail Partnership (ELCRP) and East Lothian Council in seeking to promote the county by encouraging more rail travellers to visit.   A leaflet targeted at walkers and cyclists has been produced which will highlight the extensive network of quiet country pathways, through stunning […]

A special service was held in Athelstaneford Kirk on Sunday 30 November to mark Scotland’s national day – St Andrew’s Day. The life and work of our patron saint, St Andrew, was the theme of Minister Joanne Evans-Boiten’s sermon.
After the service, in the Churchyard in glorious sunshine, the national flag was blessed by the Minister […]

Saint Andrew
Myth, Legend and Reality
Michael T.R.B. Turnbull
Saint Andrew and the Saltire have contributed much to the culture and identity of Scotland over the centuries. As early expressions of commercial and intellectual dynamism, communication and diplomatic skills they encouraged Scots to seek and develop closer ties with Europe. Not only are the Saint and the Saltire […]