MR Bugler’s letter querying the flying of St George’s flag at half mast from the cathedral tower on the day of Baroness Thatcher’s funeral (Readers’ Times, April 25) gives me the opportunity to explain a little of the thinking behind such occasions.

There are strict rules for when the flag should be flown – these include major church festivals (Christmas, Easter, Whitsun, saints’ days and ordinations) and royal occasions (birthdays mainly).

We should note it is always the St George flag that should be flown, with the diocesan arms in one corner – never the Union Jack or other flag.

On very rare occasions, the Royal Standard may be flown (such as happened when the Queen visited the Cathedral Close last year).

In recent years, however, the St George’s flag has been flown on other than the statutory occasions, reflecting, we hope, the public mood.

Buckingham Palace learned, perhaps to its cost, over the death of Princess Diana in 1997, that, while it may not have been strictly correct to fly the flag over the palace on that occasion, flying it at half mast very much reflected the public mood and was clearly needed and appreciated.

Cathedrals and churches have continued this trend and now err on the side of generosity when deciding whether or not to fly the flag.

Did we fly the flag at half mast for Harold Wilson or Jim Callaghan?

Possibly not. But in future, I would think it very likely that the cathedral would wish to mark the passing of our leaders with respect, irrespective of their political persuasion.

In the case of Lady Thatcher, the cathedral was acknowledging this significant event in the spirit of the guidelines issued by central Government to public and local authority buildings – half mast from 8am to 8pm.

THE VERY REVEREND MICHAEL TAVINOR, Dean of Hereford.