Top: Cllr Kathy Bullock a member of the Altrincham Court Leet. Middle: Cllr Ken Weston, a member of the Court Leet and below : The Mayor of Trafford, Cllr Steve Adshead, raises the English flag of St George, outside Altrincham town hall
Last Thursday, the 23rd April, I along with fellow councillors attended a splendid celebration of St George's day at Altrincham Town Hall. The whole occasion had something very English about it, as it should of course. The ancient Altrincham Court Leet was led by the Bellman of the Court all dressed in medieval robes and bearing impressive looking staffs. They arrived at the town hall where the the Mayor and Mayoress of Trafford awaited them. Plenty of fine words were used as the life of St George was remembered and following the hoisting of the cross of St George by the Mayor, the Stretford Brass band stirred the throng into choruses of Jerusalem, There'll Always be an England and the National Anthem.
In Trafford this was probably the first openly nationalistic event there has been for years and such is the madness these days of not wishing to offend non English Christians that one almost felt that one was participating in something slightly naughty or forbidden. So it is with enthusiasm that I join the campaign to celebrate St Georges day on a new public bank holiday. Why not have a day when things quintessentially English are celebrated, in dress, song, food and drink! Bring out Hogarth's roast beef of Olde England washed down with a quart (or two) of excellent ale and amble home singing songs about defeats over Englands traditional enemies of yester-year.
Just in case you think I have taken leave of my senses or already quaffed my first quart of English ale, just go to Spain, France or Italy and I think you will find that they have no shyness about upholding and celebrating their nationality in quite robust fashion.
So, to conclude in the words of the Bard (whose birthday we also celebrate on St Georges day) who put these famous words into the mouth of another hero of mine, King Henry the fifth,
"Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George! "
Is there really a 'Bellman' or is this a little Councillor in-joke?
ReplyDeleteThis all sounds a bit crusty old Tory to me. However, the statuesque Cllr Adsheed joined in (pictured above grasping the pole) so I suppose it has cross-party support.
Were the yoof of Altrincham involved?