Latest news with #SamScharf
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Labour council flies Romani flag to celebrate 'Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller History Month' - then has to apologise because it is upside down
A Labour-run council has apologised after it flew the Romani flag upside down in what was supposed to be a gesture to mark 'Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller History Month'. Cambridge City Council had put the flag, which was adopted in the 1970s, up outside the Guildhall in the city centre for the month of June. The blue, which is supposed to be at the top of the flag represents the heavens, while the green at the bottom represents the earth. However, up until yesterday these colours in the flag flown from the Market Square building in Cambridge were the wrong way up. Sam Scharf, director of communities at the council, said: 'Cambridge City Council sincerely apologises for any upset caused by flying the Romany flag upside down. 'This was not the council's intention and was an honest mistake. As soon as our error was spotted, we worked to correct it as quickly as possible. 'The flag is now flying the right way up and we will take greater care to ensure this doesn't repeat itself. 'We fly the Romany flag at the Guildhall to mark the importance of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month and are committed to strengthening equality and diversity in Cambridge.' Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller History Month was first marked in Britain in 2008. Its aims include promoting knowledge of the groups' histories and heritages, alongside offsetting negative stereotypes and prejudices. Kent Police previously sparked hundreds of complaints after it flew the Romani flag to mark 'Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller History Month'. The force, which has had to deal with a number of illegal traveller sites in the past, also posted a photo of three members of staff with the colourful banner. But the social media post prompted over a thousand responses, with most of them negative. One web user accused the force of being 'out of touch', while others declared they should leave 'left wing woke politics' behind. Bea Johanssen simply asked 'When's Crime-fighting Day?' while another questioned 'Is this a joke? We do not pay the police force to support certain groups. They should police without fear nor favour.' X user Blue Geordie said: 'Virtue signalling that means nothing to no one but will undoubtedly p*** off a lot of people who just want the police to turn up when they call them and lock up the bad guys when they find them. Simple stuff.' However, Deputy Chief Constable Tony Blaker of Kent Police said: 'Kent Police employs staff from all strands of society, including people from Gypsy, Roma and Traveller backgrounds, and this flag was flown in response to a request from serving officers in Kent. 'British policing is by consent and Kent Police seeks to positively engage with all our communities, and in doing so we regularly show our support for other national and international events and religious festivals.'
BBC News
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cambridge Folk Festival venue to host free summer concerts
A city which axed its annual folk festival this year is to host a weekend of free live music at the same venue. Cambridge Folk Festival had been due to celebrate its 60th anniversary this July, but made a loss in 2024, and is due to return to Cherry Hinton Hall next Cambridge City Council said Folk in the City would include open-air concerts at the hall in August and was a "platform to celebrate all things folk and roots throughout the year".Sam Scharf, director of communities at the Labour-run council, said it was a "truly city-wide initiative with the spirit of Cambridge Folk Festival at its heart". The annual celebration of all things folk had its first weekend of live music at Cherry Hinton Hall in 1965 and over the years saw performances from Van Morrison, Billy Bragg and Sinead O' councillor for the area Robert Dryden, who had been to every festival, previously said its cancellation in 2025 was a "big disappointment".The Folk in the City line-up includes ticketed folk and roots-inspired gigs at venues across the city from this month, including Jake Bugg and Suzanne Vega at the Corn Exchange.A folk summer school, launched by the festival last year, will hold workshops for young musicians in 2 August, Cherry Hinton Hall will stage family activities and a concert of local and national artists, including an ensemble formed at the summer school.A Music in the Parks event of "relaxed live folk" will take place the following council said further details and events would be announced in the coming months. Follow Cambridgeshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
