Abingdon-on-Thames Town Council has a flag policy which states which flag can be flown from the County Hall Museum.
Union flag
The Union flag can be flown all year round and takes precedence over all other flags. The Union flag should always be flown on dates designated annually by HM Government.
Abingdon Town Flag
The town flag is hoisted the day before the annual meeting of the town council and Mayor making in May and is flown for the following week. It is also hoisted the day before the Mayor’s birthday and the Annual Civic Service and is flown for the following week in each case.
Calendar of regular flags to be flown
Subject to the precedence given to the Union Flag on designated days, the following flags may be flown:
| Dates | Occasion | Detail |
| January 27 | Holocaust Memorial Day | To be flown at half-mast |
| February 1 | LGBTQ+ and Pride awareness month start | New Pride Progressive flag |
| February 28 | LGBTQ+ and Pride awareness month end | New Pride Progressive flag |
| March 8 | International Women’s Day | Suffrage flag |
| Second Monday in March | Commonwealth Day | Flag of Commonwealth of Nations for one week |
| April 22 | Earth Day | Earth Day flag |
| April 23 | St George’s Day | To be flown on St George’s Day and for one week after |
| May 8 | VE Day | Union flag |
| May 9 | Europe day | Council of Europe flag |
| June 1 | LGBTQAI+ and Pride month start | New Pride Progressive flag |
| Second Saturday in June | HM King’s Official Birthday | Union flag |
| June 20 | World Refugee Day | Abingdon city of sanctuary flag |
| June 21 | Prince of Wales’s Birthday | Union flag |
| Monday before Armed Forces Day, which is the last Saturday in June | Armed Forces Day | Armed Forces flag, for a week in June starting Monday before Armed Forces Day which is the last Saturday in June |
| June 30 | LGBTQ+ and Pride month end | New Pride Progressive flag |
| TBC | One week Abingdon Pride | New Pride Progressive flag |
| July 17 | Birthday of HM the Queen Consort | Union flag |
| August 15 | VJ Day | Union flag |
| August 24 | Ukraine Independence Day | Ukraine flag |
| September 8 | His Majesty’s accession | Union flag |
| October 24 | United Nations Day | UN flag |
| November 11 | Armistice Day | Union flag |
| Second Sunday in November | Remembrance Day | Union flag, second Sunday November plus the day after |
| November 14 | Birthday of HM King Charles III | Union flag |
| December 3 | International Day of Persons with disabilities | Purple Disability flag |
| December 14 | Anniversary of the passing of the Representation of the People Act 1918 | Suffrage flag |
| December 18 | International Migrants’ Day | Abingdon Sanctuary flag |
Other flags
Royal Standard
In the event of a royal visit the appropriate Royal Standard may be flown.
Thames Valley Police Flag
The Thames Valley Police Flag may be flown on request to the Town Clerk, Mayor and Leader of Council.
Other (guest) flags
Applications to fly guest flags shall normally be considered by the town council. When this is not possible because the timing of the application means that there is not time for the council to consider the application, determination of such applications will be resolved by the Town Clerk, Leader of the Council and Mayor by way of a majority vote.
Flag flying during inclement weather
Sometimes you may notice that there is no flag flying. This is because the flags are not flown during periods of high winds or when high winds are anticipated during the coming days. Flags can get ripped or damaged during high winds so in these circumstances they are not flown until winds drop and a period of settled weather is forecast.
Flying flags at half-mast
Union flag
- From the announcement of the death, up to the funeral of the sovereign, except on Proclamation Day when they are hoisted at full mast from 11am to sunset.
- The funerals of members of the Royal family, subject to Royal command in each case.
- The funerals of foreign rulers, subject to Royal command in each case.
- The funerals of prime ministers and ex-prime ministers of the United Kingdom
- On other occasions by Royal command. Local government bodies are permitted to fly the Union flag at half-mast to mark local as well as national commemorations or losses.
Town flag
To be flown at half-mast on the following occasions:
- From the announcement of the death for one week, or to the day of the funeral of a serving Town Councilor or Freeman of Abingdon.
- From the announcement of the death and for one week or to the day of the funeral of a former mayor of the town.
- On the day of the funeral of a serving councillor, freeman, former mayor, or serving member of staff, should the occasion arise.
Urgent matters and exceptional circumstances
The flag policy is a matter for the town council to determine but there may be occasions when urgent decisions are required. In these circumstances, these matters shall be determined by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Mayor.
The use of any other flags in other circumstances should be exceptional, determined by the Town Clerk with the agreement of the Leader of the Council and the Mayor. It is not proposed to mark any major sporting events unless there are overwhelming circumstances such as one of Abingdon’s football clubs in the FA Cup final or a national team in a World Cup final.
