Public support flies the flag for Collingwood
Wave of public support sees Trafalgar flag fund hit target at a rate of knots. Tony Henderson reports
A crowdfunding drive to raise £15,000 to permanently display the Battle of Trafalgar Union flag flown by Newcastle-born Vice-Admiral Collingwood’s warship has reached its target in just 11 days.
With the target set to run to September 3, the surge of public support has left organisers “overwhelmed”.
Now North East Museums has extended its appeal target to £20,000 to create a permanent setting for the flag from HMS Royal Sovereign at the battle.
It acquired the flag for a fixed fee of £450,000 to save it for the UK, after the Secretary of State placed an export ban on it to prevent its owner selling it overseas.
The museum is now raising funds to house and display the flag at Discovery Museum in Newcastle.
Collingwood was born in Newcastle and later lived at Morpeth, while more than 500 North East sailors who took part in the battle were from the region.
The crowdfunder will be used to involve visitors and schoolchildren with the story of Collingwood, the role of North Easterners in the Royal Navy, and as part of the wider story of maritime history in the region and its global impact.
Keith Merrin, director of North East Museums, said: “We’re absolutely delighted with the support we have received and that we hit our appeal target in only 11 days. We’ve now stretched our target to aim to raise £20,000 towards the cost of creating a permanent display at Discovery Museum with the Battle of Trafalgar flag as the centrepiece.”
The National Heritage Memorial Fund has supported the acquisition with a £400,000 grant and further backing has come from the Sir James Knott Trust, which has doubled public donations, Community Foundation North East, XTX Markets, the Drapers’ Charitable Fund and several other donors.
The Collingwood family has also contributed to the fundraising appeal to save the flag and bring it to Newcastle.
Susan Collingwood-Cameron, great, great, great niece of Vice-Admiral Collingwood, is appealing for a new wave of public backing to reach the £20,000 goal.
She said: “As a great, great, great niece of Vice-Admiral Lord Collingwood I am excited to hear that the Union Flag flown from his flagship, at Trafalgar is coming to Newcastle.
“This flag is said to have been made by sailors on board the ship, many of whom came from Tyneside and were affectionately referred to by him as his ‘Tars of the Tyne.’
“It will be a tribute to them, and the important role they played, in one of our greatest moments in history. There may well be descendants of their families still living in the area.
“It sends a shiver up your spine to see something tangible that has actually been in that battle. It is unique especially for the North East and hopefully it will inspire people’s support.”
Mr Merrin added: “Collingwood is a popular figure in the North East but perhaps isn’t given the national hero status that he and his crew deserve.
“Our fundraising continues so that we can create a permanent display with the flag as the centrepiece at Discovery Museum where it can be enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of visitors each year.”