The Red Ensign will fly over County Hall for the first time as Nottinghamshire County Council marks Merchant Navy Day, 3rd September.

It will be raised by Ravenshead’s Tom Mason, who served in the Merchant Navy from 1956 until the 1970s and is a past president of the Conway Club, a group of former merchant navy seamen who trained on cadet ship HMS Conway.

After raising the flag at County Hall, Tom will go to London to attend the national event at Tower Hill memorial.

Merchant Navy Day is an annual event that recognises and remembers the sacrifices and courage of the Merchant Navy, the role it played in keeping Britain’s supply lines moving during both world wars and, in peace time, battling the perils of the sea.

The Red Ensign, or Red Duster as it is also known, has been the recognised flag of the British Merchant Navy since 1854.