Added poignancy to flag ceremony on Spike’s 12th birthday
A FAMILY tradition of flying the Guernsey flag became a way to honour a late relative who died from Covid last year.
Spike and Hattie Jinks, aged 12 and 14, have flown their own flags every year on their birthdays in landmark local locations, before having the location and date embroidered onto their flags.
Their father, Chris, unveiled the Guernsey flag at the Liberation Day ceremony in 1985 as a Scout.
‘Even though I’m sure my name was pulled out of a hat, our family has a special connection to the Guernsey flag. Because of this connection when they were born we bought them a flag each,’ Mr Jinks said.
‘Every year we choose an important location to fly them on their birthdays. Our first one was at the Ship & Crown, where there is a photo from the Occupation of a Nazi flag flying.’
Spike’s 11th birthday fell during the first lockdown, when his grandfather sadly died within two days.
‘We couldn’t go to see “Opa” or fly the flag last year, so instead thought to embroider “Covid-19 RIP Opa, 27 March 2020” which has real significance for us. He was the first Guernseyman to die from Covid, but because he was in Southampton it was recorded in the UK statistics. This year we got permission to fly Spike’s flag at Footes Lane and were really pleased to get it back up.’
Since starting the tradition with Hattie flagpoles around the island have popped out as potential locations, he said.
‘Guernsey has been flying the flag in the pandemic sense too, as one of the world leaders in getting it under control.’
Spike said: ‘I like it because it gives me something to do on my birthday. I don’t know how many more flag poles we can go to.’
For his birthday the young spicy food lover asked for a phaal curry.
Certain locations have specific flag flying rules, such as Castle Cornet and Elizabeth College, so those were Spike’s favourite locations.
Included in the Jinks family’s dream flagpoles are Cobo’s ‘flag rock’ and the privately-owned L’Ancresse loophole tower.
