Flying the flag at half mast

204 years ago amidst the west coast of Spain, one of the most spectacular battles ever fought, took place in water. British ships under Admiral Lord Nelson’s command squared up to 33 French & Spanish ships west of Cape Trafalgar – hence the “Battle of Trafalgar”.

Nelson sunk 22 of his enemy ships without losing any of his own. A victory for Britain’s naval hero’s and as a result, quashed Bonaparte’s wishes to invade British Isles. The most significant thing about that battle was the boat HMS Spartiate, which flew a flag on its mast measuring 224cm x 356cm and hand stitched by 540 crew members. After the battle and in recognition of his bravery, the flag was presented to Lieutenant James Clephan.

204 years later a descendent of the very man named, living in Australia, was looking through his drawers in his house and came across this very flag. GREED set in his heart. MMMM I wonder what this would fetch. He set about enquiring around auction houses and was told it would sell for about $A26, 576. In a recession, any money counts.

This is now where we head back home to Britain. Whispers, murmurs, mumbles and discussions of this find. Now let’s break off for a few financial facts:-

Duke Of Westminster £6.5 Billion
Sir Richard Branson £1.2 Billion
Sir Phillip Green £3.8 Billion
Simon Cowell £120 million

The above people appear in Britain’s 2009 Rich List. Why should I mention them…well read on...
The battle for the flag was well under way once again, one bidder in the auction room and a bidder bidding by phone…very very far away. Could it be Richard from his Necker Island or even Phillip calling from Monaco tax haven? Maybe Simon was calling from Los Angelis to find out if his knighthood had been lost in the latest postal strike. No, no and no again to all the above. There was one clue there in the riddle…America. Yes folks the land of the plenty has struck again but this bidder from America had to battle with us first. The UK Government imposed a temporary export ban to give any British Museum a chance to match the sale price. Now at this point I am kicking the sh*t out of my wall. The flag was eventually sold for £384,000 to the Americano – hey buddy spare a dime.

What’s my point!!! Above, I named 4 very rich listed people with a combined worth of over £11.5 Billion pounds (%*@k). Yes, you heard right £11.5 Billion pounds. All knew of this flag, all could have benefited from this item yet not even the lowest of the Rich List – footballers, singers, entertainers stepped in to save a British heritage. Mr Cowell really, you drive around in a Rolls Royce claiming to be royalty, even parking on double yellow lines and get away with it. Mr Green, your happy to sell us English clothing made abroad and piss off to Monaco in your tax free haven. So Mr Branson, you could have launched a new line in Virgin flags had you bought the original for £1 million if it went that far. Oh no, not ye old lot. You’ll moan about Britain and its faults, take the poor mans wages via your clothing or record stores each weekend and that’s your support. Oh did I mention Mr Cowell’s phone-ins…sorry I forgot that factor. Hey guy’s if you’re reading this, look at my bulldog above, guess what…it’s a British Thoroughbred.