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- Sunday World
Belfast's ‘Flag Man' proud to ‘express' his culture by flying flags year round
'I have my flags out 365 days a year - they're not just out for the marching season', says Big John Thompson.
John, known locally as the flag man, is happy to fly his flags all year round.
Posters demanding 'local homes for local people' that had been put up in a loyalist area of Belfast have been removed.
Big John Thompson glories in the title the 'Best loyalist in Belvoir' – and he isn't afraid to show it.
Standing 6ft 5in, the 60-year-old man mountain has lived on the south Belfast estate for nearly two decades.
And it's a toss-up between him and his pet Dobermann Max as to which is better known.
'Around here I'm known as the 'flag man',' he proudly told the Sunday World when we called to see him this week.
'I have my flags out 365 days a year — they're not just out for the marching season.
'These flags and the bunting reflect me and my culture. I keep them in excellent condition and as soon as a flag starts to fray or show signs of wear and tear, I replace it immediately.
He added that his neighbours have no problem with his colourful house: 'I'm happy to express my culture in this way and a lot of other residents in Belvoir like it also,' he said.
John, known locally as the flag man, is happy to fly his flags all year round.
'I fly these flags every day of the year and, being surrounded by them, I feel secure.'
In front of his home John has constructed a special cage for Max so that his faithful canine can enjoy the fresh air coming down from the Castlereagh Hills without placing passers-by in fear.
He added: 'Max is an American Dobermann, which means he bigger than the original breed. He likes to see people and acknowledge their presence, which means he barks. That's a dog's way of communicating.
'But I need to be careful because some of the neighbours don't like dogs barking.'
Occasionally, John also likes to blast out some dance music.
'I'm a real dance music fan, but I need to be careful. Some of the neighbours aren't keen on it,' he joked.
It's not just loyalist flags John displays around his terrace cottage home – he also flies emblems commemorating Allied victories in the Far East during World War II.
Posters demanding 'local homes for local people' that had been put up in a loyalist area of Belfast have been removed.
'I have flags remembering the Battle of Iwo Jima and the likes. But I keep them around the back in the shade, to prevent sun rays from bleaching them.
'One of my close friends was in the Gurka regiment and I like to remember him with a special flag also.'
All of John Thompson's flags are either union or British and American military-related, with the exception of one.
It's a special flag which flies in pride of place above his front door, publicly acknowledging his commitment to Jesus Christ.
The Belvoir estate has been the focus of anti-immigrant protests and last week new posters were put up calling for 'local homes for local people'.
John said there were concerns in the estate about the arrival of new families. 'Local people believe the housing needs of locals should come before anyone else. It's as simple as that,' he said.
'But really you'd be better asking the Housing Executive about it. It's them who are putting people in here.'
Belfast City Council arranged for the posters to be removed in the early hours of the morning.
Two years ago, the Sunday World revealed that a Belvoir resident leading anti-immigrant protests in the area had played a major role in one of the most notorious sectarian murders of the Troubles.
Michelle Thompson lured 26-year-old mum-of-two Anne Marie Smyth — a Catholic from Armagh — to her death in 1992 in east Belfast. Anne Marie was battered and stabbed to death by a loyalist gang.
Days after Thompson was interviewed on BBC TV about the anti-immigrant protests being organised in Belvoir, the Sunday World challenged her about her role in the murder.
When asked if she had regrets, she said: 'It was a long time ago. I want to forget about it.'
