7 April 2010
Revival of St George's Day Pageant in the City of London -
after 425 years
City supports Parachute Regiment
23 April 2010 will see the revival of a great English tradition
not seen in the City of London for 425 years. St George, patron
saint of England will parade through the streets of the Square
Mile, for the first time since 1585, when Elizabeth 1 was on the
throne.
St George will be mounted on horseback with the legendary
figures of the King and his daughter and the lamb led by a
maiden
On this occasion St George will be escorted by the Band of The
Parachute Regiment, the Regimental Colour party, Pegasus the
Regimental Mascot and soldiers and armoured combat vehicles.
City Livery company Armourers & Brasiers has re-created this
unique event to honour and support The Parachute Regiment and to
raise funds for The Parachute Regiment Charity and its own Gauntlet
Trust.
Lt Col John Handford OBE, Regimental Lt Colonel of The Parachute
Regiment said: “In a year when the Regiment both celebrates the
70th anniversary of Airborne Forces and again deploys to
Afghanistan, we are delighted to take part in this historic pageant
and so exercise our Freedom of the City of London. We are sure that
the City will show its support for our soldiers, for the welfare
work of our Charity and for the educational work of the Gauntlet
Trust.”
“St. George's Day is a great opportunity to recognise what binds
us together and to celebrate England's rich culture, heritage and
sporting traditions, said Tom Tudor-Pole, member of the Armourers
who had the idea or reviving the Pageant. “The red cross of St
George on its white background was adopted by Richard the Lionheart
who brought it to England from the Crusades, and whose soldiers
wore it on their tunics to avoid confusion in battle.”
Pageant details:
The Pageant will start at Armourers Hall in Coleman Street at 11.45
and process via Gresham St, St Martins-le -Grand through
Paternoster Square and Temple Bar and pass in front of St Paul's
Cathedral at around 12noon before returning to Coleman Street via
Cannon Street and King Street. See
www.stgeorgespageant.org/
Why St George:
Our national relationship with St. George started in 1098 when he
appeared to English Crusaders at the Battle of Antioch and inspired
them to victory. By 1415, St. George was so popular that 23 April
was declared a national holiday and the Bishops of England ordered
it to be celebrated like Christmas.
The legend of St. George and the Dragon dates back to the Middle
Ages when dragons represented evil, over which the good knight
triumphed. Since then St. George has been popularly identified with
the English ideals of charity, chivalry and courage.
St George is revered worldwide, and he is patron saint not just
of England, but several other countries and cities in Europe and
beyond. He is also patron saint of soldiers, archers, cavalry and
chivalry.
Charity links
The Parachute Regiment
Charity (registered No 1131977) works to support the soldiers and
families of today's Regiment, which is considered the spearhead of
the modern British Army's rapid reaction force.
During 2010, all four battalions of the Regiment will be
deployed in Helmand Afghanistan, including elements of 4 PARA (TA).
In the Regiment's first tour in 2006, casualties included Cpl Bryan
Budd and Cpl Mark Wright, who were posthumously awarded the
Victoria Cross and George Cross respectively for gallantry. Sadly,
there have been many more casualties since. In addition to its
welfare benevolence support, the charity promotes the motivation
and well-being of serving officers and soldiers by funding
important elements of service life.
The Armourers and Brasiers Gauntlet Trust (registered No
279204), is also a leading UK charity supporting education and
research in materials science and technology, and science in
schools.
For further information please contact:
Peter Scaramanga, Scaramanga Communications
Office 01342 316 193, Mob 07768 568 960
Email
peter.scaramanga@scaracomms.co.uk
Map and photography available…
On 23 April there will be photo opportunities infront of St
Paul’s Cathedral