麻豆社

Roses aloft to celebrate England

St George is the patron saint of England - and is often identified with the English ideals of honour, bravery and gallantry. Officially, his Saints Day is April 23. Birmingham celebrated on Saturday 26 April 2008.

Maypole dancers

Hundreds of patriotic Brummies enjoyed free entertainment in Victoria Square and Chamberlain Square, celebrating all things English.

This year鈥檚 family friendly activities were organised by Birmingham City Council and Birmingham St George鈥檚 Day Association with support from 麻豆社 WM.

English entertainment

In Victoria Square, on Saturday April 26, the entertainment included: English folk music band Show of Hands, popular Beatles tribute band The Fab Beatles and the City of Birmingham Brass Band.

Chaz Singh - 'Modern St George'

Introducing and supporting the entertainment was Jenny Wilkes, Phil Upton and Jenny Jones from 麻豆社 WM.

Medieval

Following the medieval theme of the day, travelling story tellers roved around the squares, illustrating their great tales with puppet shows.

Children's entertainment included a smoke breathing dragon slide, face painting, a traditional carousel and more. Food, drink, English wine-tasting and crafts stalls kept parents entertained.

Morris dancers

Folk dancing

Chamberlain Square saw traditional English entertainment in the form of sword dancing from the Newcastle Kingsmen, the Earlsdon Morrismen, clog and step dancing from Bristol's City Clickers, Birmingham's Jockey Morrismen and Donna Maria - maypole dancers from London.

St George's Day concert - Symphony Hall

A St George's Day concert, in aid of charity, was held at Symphony Hall on Saturday 26th April, 6pm until 9pm.

St George's Cross

The concert was hosted by 麻豆社 WM's Carl Chinn and featured the Sovereign Brass Band, English folk group Show Of Hands, soprano Sarah Ryan, soprano Sharron Burns, massed male voice choirs and the Birmingham Festival Choral Society.

James Ward was the conductor, Darren Hogg played the organ, Jean Lowe played the piano.

The concert will raise funds for DebRA, a charity that assists people with the genetic skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), and Birmingham people with bi-polar disorder.

B'ham Festival Choral Society members

The concert was recorded by 麻豆社 WM and broadcast at a later date. Listen to Carl Chinn on 麻豆社 WM for more details.

Have dragon, will travel

He's not just popular with the English, St George is also the patron saint of Aragon, Catalonia, Georgia, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal, Germany and Greece; and of Moscow, Istanbul, Genoa and Venice (second to Saint Mark).

Photos by Tessa Burwood and Sarah Loat.