A new mosaic along with decorative bunting and Heraldic flags designed to commemorate the 800th anniversary of the sealing of Magna Carta were unveiled today in the heart of Egham Town Centre in front of a large crowd of all ages.

The decorations are the result of workshops run by Royal Holloway student volunteers who worked with the local community to encourage them to think about what Magna Carta means to them. The students worked with elderly care home residents to create designs for the bunting, Egham and Englefield Green Youth Centres to make heraldic flags, Strode's College and Uxbridge College to design street banners and local schools to create artwork which was incorporated into the mosaic by artist Kim Porrelli. 

The Mayor of Runnymede and Royal Holloway’s Principal, Paul Layzell unveiled the mosaics with some help from local primary school children.

As part of National Volunteering Week 2015, the students have also been helping to prepare the local area for the Magna Carta festivities.  Some of the projects include creating a Magna Carta garden at St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, stencilling Magna Carta motifs on street furniture in Egham High Street, clearing litter and transforming a playground at St Cuthbert’s School in Englefield Green. 

Royal Holloway has over 3000 registered Community Action student volunteers who regularly help out in local community projects.

Claire Kennan, Community Action Volunteer, said: “It’s been a fantastic opportunity for Community Action, local residents and local schools to come together and get involved in the Magna Carta celebrations. I think the mosaic will be a real focal point in the community for years to come and I hope it’s something the town will be proud of.”

Frankie Clarkson, local resident, said: “It’s a wonderful way to begin the 800th anniversary celebrations. It brings home to people how important what happened then still is today. I think it’s a good way to involve young people- so they can see why Magna Carta is important and how it’s fundamental to democracy.”

What do you know about heraldic flags?

• Heraldic insignia (aka, coats of arms) came into use in the early 12th century.
• Knights used them to identify themselves in tournaments when dressed head to tail in armour.
• By the time of King John every family had its own heraldic insignia, a bold and relatively simple device that was instantly recognisable.