Death of Robert Anderson, 'the flag man of Crail'
Robert Anderson, famously known as "the flag man of Crail," has died at the age of 88.
For years residents flocked to see which standard would proudly adorn the pole in the former RAF man's garden.
A special Mother's Day creation to flags commemorating everything from the inauguration of US president Barack Obama to the visit of bin men on a Friday have been flown outside Mr Anderson's Crail home.
Such were the number of inquiries made at his home that Mr Anderson began to attach details of each day's standard on the gate post. He created quite a talking point for locals and visitors alike and it is with great sadness that many noted a flag flying at half mast in recent days.
Mr Anderson's daughter Carolyn Shipley described how Mr Anderson's interest in flags became a consuming passion. "My father was in the RAF and liked the tradition of raising a flag at the beginning of each day," she explained.
"When he bought the house in Crail one of the first things he did was put a flag pole in the garden. He only had a couple to begin with but the collection quickly grew and he ended up with more than 200."
Ms Shipley has been amazed by the response to her father's death. "We were not expecting anyone but the family to note his passing, but we have had cards from people addressed only to ‘the flag man's family,' " she explained.
"He was latterly very well known as the flag man of Crail. My father flew his flags in rotation, except for requests and special occasions — like for the bin men on Fridays.
"People would just stop and ask why he was flying a particular flag, and get into conversation, and that way came many more flags from all over the world."
Among the more unusual specimens was a UN flag that flew over the Green Line in Cyprus. However, among the pride of Mr Anderson's impressive collection was a standard once flown above the Capitol Building in Washington.
"One day an American stopped and said they must be related, as his name was also Anderson and noticed dad was flying the Stars and Stripes," Ms Shipley explained.
"In fact my dad was as Scottish as they come, but the incident led to a correspondence opening up, and eventually to him receiving one of the precious flags that fly over the Capitol building in Washington."
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