Hampshire Flag Company, UK, News 2007

October


Disabled sailor sets off on solo Atlantic challenge
A determined yachtsman looks set to become the first person to sail solo across the Atlantic - with only one hand. Hampshire Flag has supported Keith White's expedition in a Hanse 400 yacht by donating two 15ft x 2ft banners. The banners will fly at the front of Keith's yacht throughout the 2000-mile challenge to raise money for RNLI and The Cutty Sark Trust.

Flag firm's first through finishing line with new welding machine
Hampshire Flag can now offer its clients even greater finishing precision after purchasing a state-of-the-art Miller Weldmaster CS112 heat sealing finishing machine. The 10m long machine, worth around £40k, uses laser beams to line up production for superb precision and accuracy and will revolutionise the firm's finishing capabilities. The Miller Weldmaster provides hot air welding using heat, speed and pressure for the bonding, sealing and fusing of industrial fabrics for exceptional strength and durability. The arrival of the machine follows hot on the heels of the company's recent purchase of a state of the art printer. The DuPont ChromaPrint 22 UVSE printer allows printing on board, PVC and glass and has opened up lucrative new markets and opportunities for the firm.

SEPTEMBER


Flag firm helps tackles homelessness at football event
Hampshire Flag played a key position in supporting an annual international football tournament changing lives - the Copenhagen 2007 Homeless World Cup - by providing 48 flags measuring 5x3m. The flags represent each of the nations taking part in the event which is a high profile, life-changing annual event that supports local grass roots projects all year round. Scotland won by the way!

Textile student sees flag designs soar on Penzance promenade
A design student's work was flying high this summer when it is displayed on flagpoles along the seafront of a popular Cornish town. Hampshire Flag digitally reproduced the work of Helen Stark, a second year BA (Hons) Textile Design student at University College Falmouth. The six flags measuring 95cm x 175cm each, were flown on Penzance Promenade.

Sahara marathon raises thousands for FORT
A 1.5yd flag was donated to a Hampshire man who bravely undertook the toughest foot race on earth. Paul Pickford completed the 240km Marathon des Sables across the Sahara desert in seven days, in aid of FORT (Friends of Oncology and Radio Therapy) based at Portsmouth NHS Trust. Paul raised £6000 for the cancer charity.

AUGUST


Swimmer flags up climate change with North Pole swim
Lewis Pugh has once again put global warming in the limelight after becoming the first person to undertake a long distance swim at the North Pole. Hampshire Flag provides on-going support for Lewis and supplied 11 3m teardrop flags representing the nationalities of the expedition's team members. The 1km swim in water ranging in temperature between minus 1.8ºC and 0ºC (29F and 32F), took 18 minutes and 50 seconds to complete.


New premises brings growth for flag firm
This summer it's 'all change' for Hampshire Flag as it moves to larger premises, increases its workforce and purchases new machinery. The company is relocating from Havant to a new industrial unit on the Pipers Wood Industrial Estate in Waterlooville to allow space for new team members, a state of the art printer and to meet an increasing amount of orders. The new printer will allow printing on board, PVC and textile, opening up lucrative new markets and opportunities.

Mementos for Mary Rose School children
Children with complex needs have been presented with lasting mementos by Hampshire Flag as as they start at their new school in Southsea. The Mary Rose School was officially opened in May and is the new education facility for the children of Futchers School at Farlington and East Shore School. Children and teachers from both schools created their own memory square by drawing, painting or stitching on fabric to remember their old schools. The 180 squares were joined together by volunteers from a local patchwork club to make a giant quilt measuring 4x3 m by 3m which now hangs in the new building. Hampshire Flag produced small squares of the school's logos and the large centre-piece for the quilt. It also created 180 small 'tea towel' sized squares from a photo taken by local photographer Kevin Diamond, for each of the children to take home and keep as a permanent memento.

JULY


Raising a banner for cancer research
Hampshire Flag is helping in the fight against cancer by donating a specially produced banner for a charity fund-raising event. The 'Old School' dance event will play 80s music with karaoke and light show and the banner will be on display throughout the evening.

New project manager for Hampshire Flag
Rob Brodie has joined the company in the newly created role of Project Manager to oversee larger orders and to ensure consistency of service to clients nationwide. Bringing Rob on board will further enhance the firm's customer-focused and quality-driven ethos and is now the sixteenth team member. Rob, 42, has an IT background and has worked for Portsmouth Water for the past 18 years.

JUNE


Support for Three Peaks Challenge
Hampshire Flag backed one man's brave and successful attempt to scale three of the UK's highest peaks in a target time of 24 hours. Séan Sweeney MBE, Deputy Operations Manager at Gunwharf Quays raised £20,815 by climbing Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Mount Snowdon in a time of 23hrs 46mins.

Flags will help Portsmouth Festivities get off to flying start
Hampshire Flag is giving a boost to events at one of the south's biggest annual celebrations by providing large, eye-catching promotional flags. The company has supplied four teardrop flags for the Portsmouth Festivities which kick off on 22 June and run until 1 July and the theme of this year's 10-day event is the 'comings and goings' of the city. Each flag measures 4.2m high and features dynamic blue, yellow and red swags incorporating the colour theme of this year's event.

MAY

Green agenda for flag company

The environment a priority for Hampshire Flag thanks to the introduction of several new schemes designed to reduce energy usage and promote recycling. The firm recycles 90% of its waste fabric by donating it to local schools, recycles all its paper, tins and bottles, and all of its products are produced with environmentally friendly materials and water-based dyes. Unwanted paper from Hampshire Flag is recycled in a specially installed station as part of a project to raise money for the Rainbow Centre in Fareham, a local educational charity, which helps children with Cerebral Palsy. The firm has also encouraged other businesses on the Alexandria Park industrial estate to get involved.

APRIL

Troops get a high flying welcome home thanks to Havant flag firm

The Hampshire Flag team has created a large-scale banner to welcome troops back from Afghanistan in response to a request from the Personnel Operations Division at the Royal Navy's Headquarters in Portsmouth. The 2.5x3 metre PVC banner was specially manufactured to greet nearly 2,500 members of the 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines (which includes Army personnel). The Marines routed through Cyprus on their return to the UK from operations in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan.

March


Hampshire Flag helps kick start the Homeless World Cup
	An international football tournament that supports local grass roots projects is being backed by Hampshire Flag for the second year running. The firm will be producing 48 flags of the countries taking part in the Homeless World Cup, which will be held in Copenhagen from 29 July to 4 August. Last year's event held in Cape Town saw amazing results with 77% of players reporting change for the better finding self esteem, jobs, homes, education, training, and coming off drugs and alcohol.

Thrill seeking swimmer makes a splash for climate change awareness

Hampshire Flag is backing record-breaking swimmer Lewis Pugh as he once again braves the world's oceans. He is swimming 160km in the Maldives, from island to island, to raise awareness of climate change and how it is effecting this low-lying country. The swim will take 10 days to complete and HFC has donated 500 Maldive hand held flags, 150 Commonwealth hand-held flags and large Union, Commonwealth and Maldive flags.

FEBRUARY


Flags prepared for Portsmouth Festivities
	One of the south coast's largest cities is preparing to celebrate its history as a place of 'comings and goings' and to support the event, Hampshire Flag will be creating four tear drop flags. The festival runs from 23 June - 1 July 2007

JANUARY


New year brings team growth Kicking off 2007 in style
Image Soon...	Kicking off 2007 in style, Hampshire Flag has appointed a new team member to help the company's continued growth and success. Jenni Roe-Stacey, 21, is the new Admin and Dispatch Co-ordinator and is responsible for order processing, liasing with customers, and ensuring the dispatch procedure runs smoothly.