You may have noticed that the Fairfield Bowls Club flagpole has taken on a special role in Fairfield of late. Often left empty in years gone by, except on occasions of national celebration or for sporting competitions (when the England or Union flags were flown), it leapt into action to display a “THANK YOU NHS” message during the pandemic, and hoisted the Ukrainian flag in a display of solidarity with that country after the Russian invasion.

The Ukrainian flag was replaced with the Union flag – of course – for the Queen’s Jubilee, but then came something surprising. Rather than returning the Ukraine flag to the top of the pole as many residents expected, a different statement was made: the rainbow flag.

June is of course Pride month (chosen because it is when the Stonewall Riots took place in Manhattan, back in 1969), a celebration of the influence LGBTQ+ people have had around the world. The London Pride march was on 2 July, and Fairfield people may well have been in attendance. This year was a special one: it’s 50 years since the first Pride march in London.

Fairfield has never had its own Pride celebration – perhaps that will come in time – but seeing the flag flying in the centre of our village is a great leap forward for inclusivity and the celebration of diversity in our community. We are excited to see what other flags the bowls club will fly in the months to come.