One might be surprised or alarmed to see flags on lamp posts etc around the Isle of Dogs, some the Union Flag/Jack, some St. George's Flag. Some might think that 'Far Right Racists' have put these up ,it all depends on which media source you read or listen to because sadly ,our once beloved flags have again been kidnapped. I have lived on the Isle of Dogs all my life, this was, before the Eighties a poor forgotten place with no transport links and very little social housing with waiting lists miles long! The bomb damage from WW11 was still visible. In 1967 when we got married my husband Don and I lived in a Victorian house that had been condemned ! It was very damp with wet rot mushrooms growing in the living room, and had no bathroom or hot water. The toilet was in the garden, it was awful and our children's health suffered. There was very little racial  diversity on the Island , we had only one bus and basically the people that remained after the War were very 'Insular'. Nobody wanted to live here , we didn't have a large supermarket until Asda in 1983. The enterprise zone was declared in 1981 bringing Canary Wharf(where originally goods from the Canary Islands were unloaded )and the DLR.
The Council was building new flats but the original population was aware that "non Islanders" were being housed before them. This was how in 1993 Derek Beackon of the BNP was voted in as a councillor for the Isle of Dogs.The BNP used the Union Jack as their flag, kidnapping our National Flag, as this movement grew this flag was seen as a sign of division and not unity. In Tower Hamlets it signified racism and was unofficially banned.
The flag of St. George became popular, after Scotland and Wales were given their own Parliament and Assembly, the Saltire and the Dragon flag were proudly displayed and at Football and Rugby matches the St. George's flag was used to represent England. This flag is on the shield badge of the City of London.
Sadly again the 'Far Right' is using the English flag to hide behind. The average English football supporters are not 'Far Right' so please give us our flags back, it is so sad. Most of the people marching behind the St. George's are neither 'Far Right' or racist. Perhaps we could have a competition to design a flag that wouldn't upset anyone so far I can only think of a White Flag with a Question Mark . 

Barbara Liddell