Update: This article published before midday on 1st April was an April Fool.
Today (Sunday) the Isle of Wight Council has unveiled plans to paint the iconic Island landmark The Needles in full Union Flag colours in celebration of both the Queen’s Jubilee and the 2012 Olympics.
For the 1977 Jubilee the famous doors of BHC in East Cowes were painted in the flag’s colours and to this day remain the largest Union Flag in the world. But for 2012 the Isle of Wight Council is planning to go one step further and break the existing record by painting an even larger flag on the Island’s most famous landmark.
Painting begins this month
Painting will begin in early April in time for the Olympic torch’s visit to the landmark, the Jubilee, the Queen’s visit to Cowes and the Olympics during July and August. It is also hoped that the sight of the flag will inspire British sailors competing in adjacent waters during the Olympic sailing events.
The task will be undertaken by a team of specialist marine painters from Cowes who will be attached to ropes and lowered down each side by winches onboard a specially adapted barge. It is expected to take up to two weeks to complete the work.
Roger Rogerson from Cowes-based MPC Ltd who are undertaking the work said, “Obviously it is a little different from our day-to-day job painting boats, but we are pretty confident we can complete the task. The actual process is very similar to that used to paint a large ship.”
Concerns raised by IW AONB officers
The Isle of Wight AONB had initially raised concerns about long-term discolouration of the Needles, but the Council have now confirmed that they will give them a fresh coat of white paint during early September, once the celebrations have been completed.
A Council spokesperson told us, “2012 is a huge year for Britain and we thought this would be the ultimate homage to our Queen and those competing in the Olympics. We have allayed any fears about the long term discolouration by confirming that we will give them a fresh white coat later in the year, which to be honest they have needed for some time.”
