Residents have been left frustrated after a series of incidents in the dead of night over the weekend.
Flags on the Kirby estate in Bermondsey (Image: Facundo Arrizabalaga/MyLondon)
Flags supporting England’s national football team have been targeted on the Kirby Estate in Bermondsey, a residential area known for its passionate displays of patriotism during football tournaments. The community is famous for adorning the London estate with England flags and murals celebrating football heroes such as Fran Kirby and Eberechi Eze. This year, with the Lionesses competing in Euro 2025, the estate once again transformed into a vivid showcase of support.
However, residents were left frustrated after a series of incidents in the dead of night over the weekend. Around 2am, someone—or a group—cut down large sections of the estate’s England bunting. Flags that had been strung between buildings were found on the ground, with the vandalism repeated on multiple nights.
A spokesperson for the estate expressed disappointment on social media, saying the community woke to find “the majority of our flags” had been deliberately removed. The motive behind the vandalism remains unknown.
Despite this, the estate’s residents have quickly rallied to restore their displays. Most of the flags have been put back up, and an anonymous donor even supplied a new reel of string to replace what was lost, reports MyLondon.
The Kirby Estate has long been a strong supporter of women’s football, with a striking mural of Fran Kirby unveiled in 2022 to inspire local children, especially girls, to play the sport. Chris Dowse, who has lived on the estate for over a decade, described the mural as “massively important” for the growth of the women’s game.
As England’s Lionesses prepare for their Euro 2025 quarter-final clash against Sweden, the spirit of the Kirby Estate remains undimmed, with residents determined to keep flying the flag—literally—no matter what.
The latest incident comes a day after 12-year-old Courtney Wright, a pupil at Bilton School in Rugby, was placed in isolation for wearing a Union Flag dress to a cultural celebration day.
Her father, Stuart Field, said his daughter had been “gobsmacked” and embarrassed by the school’s reaction, which contradicted its stated aim of promoting “inclusion, understanding, and appreciation of different backgrounds.” The school later apologised, describing the incident as “deeply regrettable.”
Mr Field said: “It just seemed anything that was remotely British wasn’t allowed. Others were allowed in burkas, niqabs or traditional Nigerian clothing.”
He said the school had since backtracked and apologised after the issue was raised with governors but added: “The damage had already been done. Courtney should not have been made to feel that way.”
