The gonfalon, gonfalone is a type of heraldic flag or banner pointed, swallow-tailed, or with several streamers, suspended from a crossbar in an identical manner to the ancient Roman vexillum. It was first adopted by Italian medieval communes, by local guilds and districts; the difference between a gonfanon with long tails and a standard is that a gonfanon displays the device on the non-tailed area, the standard displays badges down the whole length of the flag. A gonfalon can include a coat of arms, or decoration. Today, every Italian comune has a gonfalon sporting its coat of arms; the gonfalon has long been used for ecclesiastical processions. The papal "ombrellino", a symbol of the pope, is mistakenly called "gonfalone" by the Italians because the pope's ceremonial umbrella was depicted on the banner. Gonfalone was the name given to a neighbourhood meeting in medieval Florence, each neighbourhood having its own flag and coat of arms, leading to the word gonfalone becoming associated with the flag.

Gonfalons are used in some university ceremonies, such as those at The College of New Jersey, University of Chicago,Rowan University, Rutgers University, Princeton University, University of Toronto, Loyola University New Orleans and the University of St. Thomas. A Gonfalon of State is part of the Regalia of the Netherlands; the banner is made of silk and it has been painted with the souvereign's coat of arms as they were in the 19th century. The Gonfalon of State is only used when queen is sworn in. A picture of a gonfalon is itself a heraldic charge in the coat of arms of the Counts Palatine of Tübingen and their cadet branches. Gonfalons had great significance as Christian religious objects in Europe during the Medieval period in central Italy; these religious objects consisted of a cloth of canvas but of silk, supported by a wooden frame with a T-shaped support on the back, a long pole to hold up the banner during ceremonies and processions. The banners were painted with oil paints, sometimes on both sides.

Images on the gonfalons included the patron saints of cities, confraternities or guilds, the Virgin and Child, Jesus Christ, God the Father, plague saints, the Virgin Mary as Queen of Heaven, Theotokos, or Madonna of Mercy. Because these banners were associated with a particular group unusual and individual iconography could appear; these gonfalons were commissioned and kept by confraternities, lay religious groups who gathered together for devotional purposes such as the singing of hymns, the performance of charitable works, or flagellation. The banners would be either displayed on the wall of the oratory or packed away until they were needed for their primary use, religious processions. During processions, the banner would be carried on its pole by members of the confraternity; this devotional act of carrying the banner in procession was believed to be a holy act of worship, it was hoped that the act would gain divine favour from God, Jesus and the saints portrayed on the banner. From the thirteenth to the sixteenth centuries, plague banners were produced and carried in processions as a way to plead for divine intercession to prevent or cure the plague.

"Baseball's Sad Lexicon", 1910 poem referring to a baseball championship pennant as a "gonfalon" Coat of arms Fanion Flagellant Confraternities Gonfaloniere Khorugv, a gonfalone analogue in Christian churches of East-European origin Pennon Vexillum Armorial Display: Banners and Heaters

The 2011 Parramatta Eels season is the 65th in the club's history. Coached by Stephen Kearney and captained by Nathan Hindmarsh, they competed in the NRL's 2011 Telstra Premiership; the Eels finished the regular season in 14th place, failing to make the finals for the 2nd consecutive year. The Eels made several new player signings for the 2011 season. In the forwards, the Eels added former Queensland centre Carl Webb and former Bulldogs and Cronulla as well as one-time Kangaroo Reni Maitua. To bolster the backs after the retirement of Eric Grothe Jr and the departure of Timana Tahu, the Eels signed the experienced pair of Chris Walker and Chris Hicks. 2011 can be considered to have been a year of “almost“ for Parramatta, with the team losing over half of their matches by four points or less, many of which were conceded after attaining leads over their opponents. The Eels pushed a record four games into Golden Point during the season, however were unable to win any, resulting in a draw against the St George Illawarra Dragons and one-point losses to the Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters and the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Throughout the 2011 season, coach Stephen Kearney motioned several reshuffles of the Parramatta side, the most high-profile change being fullback Jarryd Hayne’s switch to five-eighth after his ball-playing abilities were considered by several experts including the NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart, as his strongest point. Other switches include the moving of Luke Burt to fullback, second-rower Ben Smith to right centre, the resting of five-eighth Daniel Mortimer. Before the final match of their season, the Eels had won only five of their 24 games and were in contention for the dreaded wooden spoon. During their final match, the Parramatta side emerged victorious over the Gold Coast Titans who were direct contenders for last place; the wooden spoon was awarded to the Gold Coast side, finishing 16th on the NRL ladder, the Eels finishing in 14th position. The 2011 Telstra Premiership season draw for Parramatta is as follows Michael Cronin clubman of the year award: Les'Tex' Brooker Ken Thornett Medal: Fuifui Moimoi Jack Gibson Award: Fuifui Moimoi Eric Grothe Rookie of the Year Award: Mitchell Allgood

John Comyn Vaughan Wilkes was an English educationalist, Warden of Radley College and an Anglican priest. Wilkes was born in Eastbourne, the eldest son of Lewis Chitty Vaughan Wilkes and his wife Cicely Ellen Philadelphia Comyn, his parents were the proprietors of St Cyprian's School which they had established in 1899. Wilkes was educated at Fonthill East Grinstead, St Cyprians and Eton College, where he was a King's Scholar. George Orwell and Cyril Connolly followed him to Eton as scholars from his parents' school. Wilkes won a classical scholarship to Oxford. At Oxford, he won a half blue for golf and played in the University Golf Match against Cambridge in 1924 and 1925. In 1925, Wilkes became an assistant master at Eton and from 1930 to 1937 he was Master in College there. In 1937 he became Warden of Radley College, after the outbreak of World War II he helped arrange for Eastbourne College to be evacuated to Radley from the south coast. In spite of overcrowding, the two schools drew together harmoniously.

Wilkes pushed the school forward and was an ardent believer in the duty of public schools to share their benefits with others less fortunate. While at Radley, he took Holy Orders becoming Deacon in 1945 and Priest in 1946, he led the school in the centenary celebration in 1947, left Radley in 1954 to become a practising clergyman. He was Vicar of Hunslet, Leeds from 1954 until 1958 where he was concerned with social issues in deprived areas, he was Vicar of Marlow until 1965. From 1965 to 1967 he was Rector of Preston Bisset, Rector of Great Kimble. In 1974 he turned down the offer, he retired in 1977, went to live in Hereford where he died aged 84. Wilkes married Joan Alington, a daughter of Cyril Alington in 1940, her father was headmaster of Eton and Dean of Durham, her sisters married Sir Alec Douglas-Home Prime Minister, Roger Mynors, who were both Wilkes' contemporaries at Eton. Wilkes' sister Rosemary married cricketer William Tomlinson. John and Joan Wilkes' daughter Kathy Wilkes was a philosopher and active campaigner for academic freedom in Soviet Eastern Europe.

Old Radleian Online 2000 Four Radley wardens