Caerphilly Council Will Proudly Fly The Red Ensign Flag

The Red Ensign Flag will fly proudly outside Caerphilly County Borough Council’s headquarters Penallta House to mark Merchant Navy Day during a ceremony Friday 2 September. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Caerphilly is supporting a nationwide call from the Seafarers UK charity and the Merchant Navy Association for the UK Merchant Navy’s official flag to be flown to raise awareness of the UK’s ongoing dependence on Merchant Navy seafarers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The dedication will take place at the council’s headquarters at 9.00am on Friday 2 September and will be led by the Leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr Keith Reynolds. The flag will fly for the weekend to mark Merchant Navy Day which this year takes place on Saturday 3 September. The ceremony will be attended by Cllr. Dianne Price, Mayor of Caerphilly County Borough Council as well as local MP’s, AM’s and Sea Cadets. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Cllr. Keith Reynolds, leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council said, “I am pleased that we are once again supporting Merchant Navy Day. We are great supporters of the armed forces here in Caerphilly and continuing to take part in this nationwide event highlights our respect for those who serve, and those who have served in the past.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As an ‘island nation’ the UK relies on Merchant Navy seafarers for 95% of our imports, including half the food we eat. The UK has the largest ports industry in Europe. 75% of our exports (by volume) are shipped from UK ports. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​