Robert Anderson, famously known as “the flag man of Crail,” has died at the age of 88.
The prestigious standard was flown into Crail in time to mark President Obama’s inauguration. “The local school came down to help and pupils sang the American national anthem-it was quite a scene,” Ms Shipley recalled.
“The school children then made a special Mother’s Day flag for my father to fly. In return my father lent his flags out to the school to help with their geography lessons.”
Ms Shipley was deeply touched when, following her father’s death, a fellow resident came forward in a bid to ensure the tradition started by Mr Anderson continues.
“When dad was paralysed in November he could no longer put the flags up and lots of people commented on how much they missed them,” she said.
“I suppose it has become a real feature of local life and so we were delighted when his good friend George Phillips, who lives just down the road, said he would raise the flags in future. We are all absolutely delighted that they will continue to fly.”
Mr Anderson served in the RAF for 30 years and was awarded the British Empire Medal. He met his wife Gwladys during the war and they were married in 1944.
Mr Anderson is survived by Gwladys, their three children, seven grand-children and one great-grandchild.
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.”
Continued…
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.”
Continued…