St George the Brave, England’s Patron Saint.

St George the Brave, England’s Patron Saint.

For details of Masterflex Food hoses, please, continue to the end of the article or visit http://masterflex-uk.com

With tea and rain, there is the trusty white steed and dense suit of armour of St George; as one of the most recognisable symbols of England.  Historically very little is known about, England’s Patron Saint, the real St George.

St. George, was a very Brave Man

He born into a noble Christian family, in Cappadocia (now part of Turkey), around the year 280.

It is widely known that he followed his father’s profession of a soldier.  When his father died, he and his mother started living in Palestine (her homeland) and later George became one of the advisors of the Roman emperor Diocletian.

Masterflex - Diocletian

Diocletian, – He was probably the first to wear the gold crown and forbade anyone to wear purple except the emperor. A religious conservative, he promoted the idea that the emperor is a logical extension of the gods and claimed that he himself was a descendant of Jupiter, the alpha Roman God.

George refused to take orders from Diocletian, and abandon his religion, for the systematic persecution of Christians.  As a consequence, anticipated trouble, he freed his slaves and gave his property to the poor.

He was tortured and then beheaded on 23rd April 303, in Nicomedia (Palestine), as a consequence of his act; becoming an early Christian martyr.

He started earning his reputation, at the start of the 4th Century, as a protector of Christianity and helper of the poor; and it wasn’t until 494AD that he was canonised by Pope Gelasius.

England and the St George’s Cross

The relationship between St. Georg’s Cross and England goes back to the Middle Ages. A holy day in St. George’s honour was declared, by a meeting of bishops in Oxford in the year 1222, to be celebrated in England.

King Edward 1, in the 1270s, used the red cross to distinguish his army from the white crosses used by rebel barons at the Battle of Lewes.  King Edward 1, is believed to have, introduced the cross as the national emblem.

The most widely recognised symbol of St Georg’s Day, In England, is the St George’s cross; a red cross on a white background. England’s national flag is derived from St George’s Cross.

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The flag of Genoa is also derived from St George’s Cross, this is identical to the flag of England. The flag used to be the imperial war flag of the Holy Roman Empire. The symbol is used in many other European regions, most notably in the flag of Milan, which is also identical to the flag of England (England’s flag developed in the late 18th century, following the American and French Revolutions).

St. George the Patron Saint of England

King Edward III, reigning from 1327-1377, decided to make him the Patron Saint of England.  King Edward III was influenced by the stories of returning crusaders telling of Saint George’s bravery.  So, when King Edward III founded the Order of the Garter, England’s order of knights, he made Saint George its patron.  Such has been the power of St George’s story that many other nations and capital cities had adopted him as their patron saint.  St George is not the just the patron saint of England, but a number of other places: including Bulgaria, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Portugal, Russia and Genoa. He is even remembered among the Gorani people, living in mountainous areas in the Balkans, who were converted to Islam many centuries ago.

By the 14th century, Saint George was viewed as a special protector of the English.

England’s National Football Team

As a special protector of the English, Saint George’s symbol has now been invigorated, as a national symbol by fans of the English National Football, cricket and rugby teams.  Flags, scarves and painted faces all bear this cross at international matches.

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Celebrating St. George’s Day

Even today, 23rd April (St Georges Day) is believed to be the day of St. George’s martyrdom and the day of celebration in England.

St George’s Day was once celebrated as widely as Christmas, in England, becoming a national holiday in the early 15th century; but by the end of the 18th century, after the union of England and Scotland (1 May 1707), the celebrations waned and was no longer England’s a public holiday.

A village celebrating the kermesse of Saint George

A village celebrating the kermesse of Saint George

A custom on Saint George’s Day is to wear a red rose in your lapel. The more popular custom, these days, is to fly the Saint George’s Cross Flag; often seen in English pubs adorning their establishments with flags.  In cathedrals, churches and chapels, on St. George’s Day, the Jerusalem hymn is sung with traditional English food to be enjoyed later in the day.

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Traditional English food, to celebrated St. George’s Day, is also enjoyed at the Mayor of London’s annual Feast of St George in Trafalgar Square.  Trafalgar Square is decorated in red and white lined with stalls selling English food, inspired by St George’s Days 13th-century origins, as a national feasting day.

St. George, his example, as a man of courage in defence of his religion and a helper of the poor had spread throughout the globe,

His example, as a man of courage in defence of his religion and a helper of the poor, spread throughout the continents.  Saint George is a great example, which is why we are delighted, that after so many years we still rejoice his special position these days.

Our hoses are available for a variety of application: including in the food industry. The materials used comply with the relevant EC and FDA directives. 

If you’d like to learn more about our Food Industry Hoses, then please don’t hesitate to leave a comment or call us on 0161 626 8066

Prince of Wales Business Park Units G & H,

Vulcan St,

Oldham OL1 4ER

http://masterflex-uk.com

Time For Change, Its Spring!

Spring - Time for a change

Spring – Time for a change

It is that time of the year when we all move the clocks forward.

 We can start to enjoy the lighter evenings, see flowers start to bloom and look forward to warmer temperatures.

There is always one clock & a hose you may miss out by accident. Did you forget to change your clocks & hoses for Spring?

Masterflex Changing hose

Masterflex – Change your hose

Here at Masterflex, all our clocks have been altered, ready for a busy week ahead.

Don’t forget Masterflex are open Monday – Friday: 8 -2:30pm

Masterflex Technical Hoses Limited:
Units G & H, Prince of Wales Business Park,
Vulcan Street, Oldham, OL1 4ER
Tel: 0161 626 8066     Fax: 0161 626 9066

Email:info@masterflex-uk.com  or www.masterflex-uk.com

 

Happy Mother’s Day!!!!!

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Did you know Mothering Sunday, sometimes known as Mother’s Day, is held on the fourth Sunday of Lent.

It is exactly three weeks before Easter Sunday, and this year Mothering Sunday falls on 11th March.

What have you bought your mum? Flowers, chocolates or something a bit more personalised.

Whether you are relaxing or you have made plans, Masterflex would like to wish every Mum, Step-Mum, Grandma and Nana a great day.

  

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural andpolitical achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.

International Women’s Day (IWD) has been observed since in the early 1900’s – a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies. International Women’s Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity. No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others.

“The story of women’s struggle for equality belongs to no single feminist nor to any one organization but to the collective efforts of all who care about human rights,” says world-renowned feminist, journalist and social and political activist Gloria Steinem. International Women’s Day is all about celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action – whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women’s Day has been occurring for over a century – and is growing annually from strength to strength.

International Women’s Day timeline journey.

1908 – 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.

1909 – The first National Woman’s Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

1910-1911 – More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women’s rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic ‘Triangle Fire’ in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants.

1914 – Further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women’s solidarity. For example, in London in the United Kingdom there was a march from Bow to Trafalgar Square in support of women’s suffrage on 8 March 1914. Sylvia Pankhurst was arrested in front of Charing Cross station on her way to speak in Trafalgar Square.

1917 – On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for “bread and peace” in response to the death of over 2 million Russian soldiers in World War 1. Opposed by political leaders, the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote.

1996 – The UN commenced the adoption of an annual theme in 1996 – which was “Celebrating the past, Planning for the Future”. This theme was followed in 1997 with “Women at the Peace table”, and in 1998 with “Women and Human Rights”, and in 1999 with “World Free of Violence Against Women”, and so on each year until the current. More recent themes have included, for example, “Empower Rural Women, End Poverty & Hunger” and “A Promise is a Promise – Time for Action to End Violence Against Women”.

2016 and beyond – The world has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women’s and society’s thoughts about women’s equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation may feel that ‘all the battles have been won for women’ while many feminists from the 1970’s know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally!
Make everyday International Women’s Day.
Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

Silicone based high temperature ducting

Silicone Hoses and Ducting

Silicone is a very versatile product to work with, offering excellent resistance from a wide range of chemicals and extremes of temperature. Its rubbery nature makes it liquid resistant, and it has good pressure handling capabilities.

Hose manufacturers often use materials coated in silicone to create materials with multiple complementary characteristics, with silicone coated glass fibre fabric material being integral to most high temperature hoses and ducting.

Master Sil 1 and Master Sil 2

Sprung steel wire internal support, allows the hose to be very flexible, whilst the sprung steel helps prevent the hose from sagging.

Silicone coated glass fibre material gives excellent temperature resistance from -70°C up to 250°C and above. These ducting will continue working with temperatures that intermittently reach 300°C

Used across a range of applications, from air / brake ducts in car engines, railway carriage HVAC systems, steam vents on industrial washing machines, chemical solvent and toxic fume venting, anywhere where temperature, both hot or cold, can be an issue, where dust and toxic fumes need to be handled.

Available in 4m lengths

Master Clip Silicone

Silicone coated glass fibre material gives excellent solvent, chemical and temperature resistance from -60°C up to 300°C and intermittently up to 350°C

External galvanised steel wire external support helps protects the hose from scuff damage, for example dragging on the floor, or against a wall.

The external helix and soft fabric hose material makes this hose extremely flexible, allowing it to collapse lengthwise by up to 3 to 4 times.

Available in custom lengths up to 25m

 

Search Google for all our Silicone Ducting related pages HERE

 

Love is in the air!

valentine hearts

 It’s that time of the year again, when shops are filled with red roses, chocolates and gifts for your loved ones.

Have you already bought that special present, or are you planning a surprise?

Here at Masterflex, creating the perfect match is easy,

as every product we manufacture is made to suit each persons specific requirements.

If you are a new customer and would like to know what products we manufacture then call us on 0161 626 8066

Masterflex Technical Hoses Limited
Units G & H, Prince of Wales Business Park,
Vulcan Street, Oldham, OL1 4ER

Monday – Thursday 8-5pm  Friday 8-2.30pm

or www.masterflex-uk.com

valentines day

Pancakes all day!

Pancakes all day!

Get your pans ready for Tuesday 13th February.

Pancake Day has been celebrated by Britons for centuries.  Known also as Shrove Tuesday, its exact date, rather confusingly, changes every year, because it is determined by when Easter falls. But it is always the day preceding Ash Wednesday (the first day of Lent), and always falls in February or March. Pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent because they were a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent.

The most famous pancake race, at Olney in Buckinghamshire, has been held since 1445. The contestants, traditionally women, carry a frying pan and race over a 415-yard course to the finishing line. The rules are strict: contestants have to toss their pancake at both the start and the finish, as well as wear an apron and a scarf. Traditionally, when men want to participate, they must dress up as a housewife (usually an apron and a bandanna). The race is followed by a church service.

How to make the perfect pancakes.

Easy peasy lemon squeezy

Do you have a favourite topping or maybe take turns on flipping the mixture?

Here at Masterflex, jam, sugar, lemon juice or maple syrup are some of the more popular choices to have with pancakes.

 Masterflex Technical Hoses Limited
Units G & H, Prince of Wales Business Park,
Vulcan Street, Oldham, OL1 4ER

Monday – Thursday: 8 – 5pm.  Friday 8-2.30pm

Email: sales@masterflex-uk.com  or www.masterflex-uk.com

Will you be rooting for Team GB at the 2018 Olympics?

imagesThe Winter Olympic are due to kick off later this evening in Pyeongchang, South Korea.  More than 2,000 athletes from 92 countries across the world are set to take part in some spectral events in the attempt to win medals and pride for their Country.

Will Team GB be able to Ski Jump to victory or maybe they will be able to stake rings around their components not to mention the cool runnings of the Bobsleigh team.

Masterflex will be cheering on Team GB.  I’m sure they will do us proud.

Come on team GB – let the games begin!

Masterflex Technical Hoses Limited
Units G & H, Prince of Wales Business Park,
Vulcan Street, Oldham, OL1 4ER
Tel: 0161 626 8066     Fax: 0161 626 9066

Monday – Thursday: 8 – 5pm – Friday 8- 2.30 pm

Email:sales@masterflex-uk.com  or www.masterflex-uk.com

Munich – 60 years on – remembering the “Busby Babes”

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On 6th February 1958, the aircraft carrying the Manchester United football team, its staff, journalists and supporters crashed, killing 23 of the 44 passengers.

United had just beaten Red Star Belgrade and where on their way home from Belgrade when they stopped at Munich Riem Airport for re-fueling.  With a blizzard blowing and vision poor, the aircraft attempted to take off 3 times, but a layer of slush prevented the aircraft from taking off and it crashed into a fence and hit a house.  Twenty passengers died on board, and three died later in hospital. Forever remembering the Busby Babes 60 years on.

Masterflex Technical Hoses Limited
Units G & H, Prince of Wales Business Park,
Vulcan Street, Oldham, OL1 4ER
Tel: 0161 626 8066     Fax: 0161 626 9066

Monday – Thursday: 8 – 5pm – Friday 8- 2.30 pm

Email:sales@masterflex-uk.com  or www.masterflex-uk.com

 

Happy birthday Karl!

Happy birthday Karl!

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One of our skilled production operatives is celebrating his birthday here at Masterflex today.

Karl Summerscales (also known as Taz) has turned 33 today.

He has worked at Masterflex for 10 years.

On a daily basis you can hear Karl singing to the radio, whilst setting the equipment up ready for the hoses to be made.

He enjoyed an eventful night out in Manchester with his friends over the weekend but is now hard at work making the hoses.

Give Masterflex a call, place an order and Karl maybe the one who manufactures your product.

Masterflex Technical Hoses Limited
Units G & H, Prince of Wales Business Park,
Vulcan Street, Oldham, OL1 4ER
Tel: 0161 626 8066     Fax: 0161 626 9066

Monday – Thursday: 8 – 5pm – Friday 8- 2.30 pm

Email:sales@masterflex-uk.com  or www.masterflex-uk.com