- Title: Fans fly 400 flags for England ahead of Euro 2020
- Date: 10th June 2021
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (JUNE 9, 2021) (REUTERS) FLAGS ON ESTATE BALCONIES AND WALLS INCLUDING FLAG SAYING "COME ON ENGLAND KIRBY ESTATE" FLAGS ALL AROUND THE ESTATE INCLUDING FLAG SAYING "COME ON ENGLAND KIRBY ESTATE" FLAG WAVING IN WIND FLAGS ALL OVER THE ESTATE PEOPLE WALK ACROSS THE STREET SURROUNDED BY FLAGS FLAG ON POST WAVES IN WIND (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRIS DOWSE, ORGANISER, AND RESIDENT SAYING: "There's three of us that have taken charge over the last few years. Started off back in 2012 with a few flags and it's just grown every year since to what you see today where the entire estate is absolutely covered, looking resplendent ready for the Euros to start this weekend." PERSON CYCLES THROUGH ESTATE SURROUNDED BY FLAGS FLAGS FLYING IN THE WIND (SOUNDBITE) (English) DANIEL, RESIDENT, AUDIOVISUAL ENGINEER, AND TRANSLATION COMPANY ADMINISTRATOR, SAYING: "What I like about it is that we're very multicultural living here, we've got people from all over the world that live on here. And the guys who put it up they say, 'Listen if you want, it doesn't matter whether you're from Spain or Morocco', we've done it for a couple of Moroccans a few times, and they say, 'If you want your own flag, we'll get your own flag and we'll put it for you, is that alright?' and nine times out of 10 they say, 'No, it's alright'. There's no problem with it, there's no animosity. In fact, over there, you can just about see it, there's a Scottish one as well." SCOTTISH FLAG FLYING ALONGSIDE ENGLISH FLAG ENGLISH, SCOTTISH AND IRISH FLAGS HANGING DOWN SIDE BY SIDE ENGLAND AND PORTUGAL FLAG HANDING NEXT TO EACH OTHER (SOUNDBITE) (English) CHRIS DOWSE, ORGANISER, AND RESIDENT SAYING: "Since this has happened the kids love it and as soon as the flags are up, people are outside, people are talking, they're getting involved with each other. It really brings an old-school feel of community back to the place and it's nice because you don't see that anymore." FLAGS HANGING ON BALCONIES ENGLAND FLAG
- Embargoed: 24th June 2021 10:20
- Keywords: Croatia England Euro 2020 European Championship St George's Flag fans flags
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Europe,Soccer,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA001EGTIQMX
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Residents of a block of flats in London have decked out their whole estate with more than 400 England flags to celebrate the Euros, ahead of England's opening match against Croatia.
The St. George's crosses were hung side-by-side with flags from other countries including Portugal, Scotland, and Ireland to represent the other nationalities living on the Kirby Estate in Bermondsey in southeast London.
The patriotic makeover is a tradition that started in 2012 and was the brainchild of residents Alan Putman, 48, Chris Dowse, 39, and Geraldine Howard, 52, who paid for the flags themselves.
Dowse said the decoration brings back a sense of community to the estate.
"The kids love it and as soon as the flags are up, people are outside, people are talking, they're getting involved with each other. It really brings an old-school feel of community back to the place, and it's nice because you don't see that anymore."
(Production: Sophie Penney) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
- Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2021. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
- Usage Terms/Restrictions: None