The Standard was designed by Mr George Kruger-Gray and made in 1927. It was first dedicated on 28 May 1932 in Ely Cathedral as the Standard of Cambridgeshire and the Isle of Ely. In 1974 the boundaries were altered and the County renamed Cambridgeshire East.
The heraldic description of the Standard is as follows:
Azure, The Girl Guide Trefoil or. Field of fly per fess azure and gules. The county badge as above, and beyond, the motto band or. In the fly tip 3 castles argent (from the Arms of Cambridgeshire), 3 crowns or (from the See of Ely). Upper part of the fly: a castle argent between 2 crowns or. Lower part of the fly: a crown or between 2 castles argent. The Motto ‘Be Prepared’ is worked in brown letters.
The Standard is 29″ at the hoist and 17″ at the fly. The length is 92″. The reverse side is a mirror image with the same wording. The blue and red fabrics are a very fine cotton, and metallic gold and silver fabrics and threads were used in the embroidery. A blanket badge of the Standard was issued on 9 November 2001.
A lozenge pale blue a 3-flowered spray of Madonna lily proper, enfiled with a crown or.
The 3 lily flowers, representing the purity of good womanhood, recalls the 3-fold Promise. As in the World Flag, the blue background represents the sky. The crown is the ‘Crown of Righteousness’ to be given to all those who love the Lord’s appearing (Timothy II ch4 v8). The stem symbolises an important part of local history, as it shows the green leaves sprouting from St. Etheldreda’s staff.
According to legend, Etheldreda Queen of Northumbria, founded a monastic community on the Isle of Ely. One night, on her journey from Northumbria to Ely, she thrust her staff into the ground and lay down to rest. When she awoke the staff had blossomed.
The county badge links the movement closely with the County of Cambridgeshire. The crown appears in the arms of the See of Ely; the pale blue of the background is the traditional colour of Cambridge University; the Madonna Lily is a characteristic flower in the cottage gardens locally and a link with Saint Etheldreda herself.
Extracted from The Guide County Badge Book, by Brenda Hughes, published by the Guide Association, 1986.
The county badge is available as a cloth badge and an enamel pin. These, and a blanket badge of the Cambridgeshire East Standard, are available to order through the county office. Download order form.
