Newbury Pride vice chair Andrea Brookes donates new flags to West Berkshire Museum after vandalism attack

Pride flags, which vandals tore from a town centre display, have been replaced.

West Berkshire Museum had mounted the set of flags along its Granary shortly before Newbury’s Pride event last month.

But before they could be seen, the display at the Wharf was ruined by vandals who pulled down and stole multiple flags.

The vandalism, on Friday, July 11, led to a statement from West Berkshire Council posted on its Facebook page, which hit out at the crime and said it was ‘disappointed’ to see that the flags had been pulled down.

It added: “We think that everyone deserves to live in a community where people get along with each other, where no-one feels excluded and where everyone has a chance to play a full part in local life.”

Newbury Pride vice chair Andrea Brookes has now gifted new flags to the museum.

In a statement the group added: “The team at West Berkshire Museum have been among our most stalwart supporters, and we were so sad to hear that their lovely display of Pride flags was vandalised ahead of last month’s event.

“Today, our vice chair and treasurer, Andrea, personally sourced and donated a set of flags to replace those that were taken.

“We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again. Love is stronger than hate. You can take down a flag, but we are more than a flag. We are still here, still queer, and not going anywhere!”