A NEW flag of St George was formally presented to Haslemere rector the Rev Mary Bowden as part of the town commemoration of the centenary of the Great War Armistice, on Sunday.

It will fly from the new flagpole on top of the tower at St Christopher’s Church in Wey Hill, which will also feature a dramatic “cascade” of hand-made poppies on netting, as part of the tributes to be mounted by The Haslemere Great War Centenary Project.

Camelsdale Primary School is affiliated to the society and pupils have already made around 1,000 poppies.

The presentation, which was made in the town hall by Martin Coakley, chairman of the Haslemere branch of The Royal Society of St George, followed his report on the year’s activities.

Camelsdale headteacher Sarah Palmer, described the school’s involvement in the WWI centenary project and pupils’ participation in the society’s national parade at the Cenotaph last year.

Mayor Malcolm Carter, reported on his year and the launch of The Hunter Centre, The Penny Ha’Penny Trust and the town’s successful campaign to keep the town’s only public toilets open.

The Royal Society of St George’s national chairman Joanna Cadman talked about plans for a major anniversary dinner at the Tower of London later in the year and presented Emily Trappen with a grant from the society’s charity arm, towards a field trip.

Shirley Hankers, charity trustee and joint honorary branch president, reported on national council activities and events and said she was looking forward to accompanying Camelsdale pupils to the Cenotaph, in Whitehall, in April.

A joint concert mounted by the society and The Commonwealth Resounds is due to be held at St George’s Hanover Square in April as part of the cultural events supporting the Commonwealth heads of government meeting to be held in London between April 15 and 20. It will be the first time the meeting has been held in London for 20 years and the concert, which will spotlight the society internationally, will raise money for the Caribbean hurricane relief effort.

Guests also competed in a quiz to test their knowledge of all things English, which was won by Mrs Palmer.

The group’s traditional draw for a free ticket to the society’s national lunch at the RAF Club, to commemorate the Battle of Britain, in September, was won by Mrs Cadnam, who intends to add to her 2017 ‘Walk from Victory to Trafalgar’ with a 100-mile challenge in November in support of The Royal British Legion.