They seem to be more popular than ever, good for navigation but there is a macho turf war going on. They are getting taller each year. This year one person (an organiser of another festival) told me he had not taken his down - the carbon fibre fishing rod had snapped! It was a largish flag so the drag would be enormous. More worring to me was the humungous Budhist prayer flag on a bamboo pole within clout of my cranium. And Aug BH 2009 week-end was characterised by winds strong enough to damage marquees.

Not that it helps if people are damaged, much. But how many of these flag-Polish people carry insurance? I am sure they would cite the fact that disaster never happened as guarrantee it was not going to happen.

Try telling that to the guy whos caravan was crushed at Shrewsbury 2008. And I was told it was a big showy official flag-pole that did the damage.

Last w/e there was one pole (the biggest I saw) that had 3 rope stays from 1/3 up and it looked like the erector knew what he was about. But his was the only secured pole I saw.

Will it take severe injury to alert The Association of Festival Organisers (AFO) to the danger? Experience say yes. Damage to property will be left to the parties involved. IMHO

Should we sleep in safety helmets? Mine is red.