Dame Angela Watkinson, MP for Hornchurch and Upmnister, nominated The James Oglethorpe Primary School from amongst those in her constituency and the school were delighted to accept the creative challenge.

Mrs Paula Sewell, Acting Deputy Head, commented, ‘This was a fascinating event for the children to learn more about our local history as we drew inspiration from images from around the constituency.’

Finally, Year 5 and 6 children competed to produce the winning flag design to be submitted to Parliament. The winning team consisted of a group of Year 6 children: Elliott Bartells, Annah Dyett-Meade, Maisie Harvey, Luke Nixon, Marnie Manning and Oliver Murray.
Their design includes a plane representing RAF Hornchurch, home to The Fighter Command’s Group 11 during WWII; the children thought it was important to honour the Battle of Britain pilots.

It shows images of sound waves, as the first test of the speed of sound happened at St Laurence Church (measurements were made from a number of local landmarks, including North Ockendon church.) A District Line tube sign has also been included, as this constituency has built up as a result of the impact of the underground and of course, no flag would be complete without the iconic Upminster Windmill.

Children chose the colours of red, to represent the Cranham Brickfields (and our school colour), white, for England and a colour in the union flag, and green, to show that we are surrounded by green fields and represents the District Line railway.

Ms. Deborah Rowles, Head teacher, added, ‘We were delighted to be nominated to represent the constituency and have thoroughly enjoyed taking part in this project. As James Oglethorpe himself was a parliamentarian, we feel that we are carrying on a long tradition.’

Flags from all the selected schools across the UK will ‘fly’ online via a digital exhibition which you can visit at: www.parliament.uk/2015flaghub