put on display at County Hall. Lancaster City Council endorsed the group's position in June 2002, resolving that the Council "support the Friends of Real Lancashire’s campaign to restore the former geographical county boundaries". The Royal Mail no longer require the use of their former postal counties when addressing letters and instead use the postcode and post town to direct mail. As part of their flexible addressing policy, anyone may now include "Lancashire" as part of their address. Where a county is provided however, it will be ignored and to this end, an alias file supplement to the Postcode Address File cross references county and other postally-not-required information to the correct postal address. In 2013, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Eric Pickles formally recognised and acknowledged the continued existence of England's 39 historic counties, including the traditional boundaries of Lancashire. Lancashire Day As part of its campaign the group has adopted 27 November as Lancashire Day, this being the day in 1295 when Lancashire sent its first representatives to Parliament. It was first celebrated in 1996 with the Loyal Toast to "The Queen, Duke of Lancaster". Lancashire Day paralleled the similar Yorkshire Day, first held in 1975. At formal events and Lancastrian military events "Long live our noble Duke", an unofficial Lancashire variant of "God save the King" is played in respect for the Duke of Lancaster, the King. Lancashire Day has been widely publicised, including mentions on the BBC website. It has received support from district councils, the county council as well as from organisations throughout the historic county of Lancashire. See also CountyWatch References External links Organisations based in Lancashire Political advocacy groups in England