5 days ago
Pensioners sent angry letter for flying Union Flag in ‘insulting' way
A pair of pensioners who flew their Union Flag upside down have been branded 'insulting' in an anonymous letter posted through their door.
Betty and Maurice Curtis, both aged 96, said they have flown the flag on a 15ft pole in the back garden of their home in Weymouth, Dorset, for years without any trouble.
But they were left shocked when someone slipped the abusive note through their letterbox.
The type letter read: 'To whom it should concern. Is it in ignorance or arrogance that you persist in flying the 'Union Jack' upside down?
'To do so, other than in genuine need to send an 'S-O-S', is an insult!
'For your education, please refer to the illustration below, which shows the correct way to display the flag of the union.'
There is then an image of a Union Flag with the message: 'Prevalent part of white uppermost diagonal should be atop the red diagonal.'
The couple, who have been married for 75 years, said it was a 'genuine mistake' and that they 'didn't know'.
The couple added that they are big fans of the Royal family and have their anniversary card from King Charles proudly displayed on their lounge table.
They have no idea who the author of the 'horrible' letter is, but have ruled out all the neighbours in their cul-de-sac who they know well.
'A genuine mistake'
Mrs Curtis said it could have been an ex-services person who saw the flag while riding on a bus or train.
She said: 'I know the person could have served in the services, but there is no need for that.
'They could have just knocked on the door, and we would have changed it around straight away. Why can't people just be nice?
'It's a real job for Maurice to get up and change the flags sometimes, especially when it's windy.
'We don't know who it could be. Our neighbours are all lovely so it may even have been someone passing on the main street or bus, but to take the time and trouble to come up the drive is horrible.
'It was a genuine mistake. We didn't know and we didn't persist. We all make mistakes; haven't they ever done so?'
The couple, who met when Mrs Curtis was evacuated from London to Weymouth during the Second World War, frequently hang flags for various occasions such as national holidays and birthdays, and have done so for a number of years.
