deliriouslove1970. The life & times of Gary and Denise Flanders. (Free and worth every penny. If you would like to compliment the editor, send to garytheflan@deliriouslove1970.com. If you would like to complain, call your mother.)

The flag of the County of Norfolk in England. It is the top tier of government of Norfolk County, of which Norwich is the main city.

The flag is a bi-color, gold and black field with a white ‘bend’ bearing 9 black ermine spots in alternating pairs of singles and doubles. (Yes Ermine – the weasel family animal known as a stoat.

The fur of the stoat is used as trimming for ceremonial robes of royalty.) It is based on the banner of the first Earl of Norfolk from the 12th century.

The basic design of the modern Norfolk flag comes from the flag of Thomas Brotherton, the first Earl.

Today, May 29, is St Walstan’s Day. Walstan is a saint in the Anglican Church. He was an Anglo-Saxon prince known for the miracles which occured during his life after he became a farm worker. He is a patron saint of farm animals and agricultural workers.

Walstan is thought to have been born in Norfolk to Benedict and Blida in 975. He is said to have ‘received a pious education’ and at 12 he determined to devote his life to one of prayer, and became a farm worker for a man in Taverham. His life story is described in a manuscript known as ‘The Lambeth Life’. When he was told of his forthcoming death he made his confession, stopped working and instructed that his two bulls pull his body in a cart and let them wander wherever they wanted. Once they stopped he was to be buried there.

St Walstan’s Day is still celebrated each year when a special service takes place on the nearest Sunday to May 30, his day is still listed in the calendar of saints.