THERE are now parades and festivities around the county to mark our patron saint's day on Wednesday to celebrate our nationality and Englishness. Watch out for St George and the Haslemere Chamber of Trade and Commerce dragon who will be visiting Wey Hill in the morning and the Haslemere High Street area in the afternoon. The dragon, aka Melanie Odell, and her adversary, will start the day with a visit to Barrow Hills School near Witley, for the school's assembly. The battling duo will then be out and about in the town and visiting shops taking part in a window dressing competition. Roses will be handed out at the florists, dog treats from Haslemere Pet Company and there is a colouring competition at Haslemere Bookshop. Selected Haslemere Rewards outlets will also be offering incentives on the day. Highlight of the day is at 12.30pm, for the toast to St George at the War Memorial in the High Street. The ceremony will be attended by Albert Hankers, representing the chairman of the Royal Society of Saint George and the Mayor of Haslemere, Stephen Mulliner.
Chiddingfold drama l The Chiddingfold Tipteerers will be performing a traditional St George's Day play on Sunday. In Chiddingfold, the Tipteerers perform the authentic local version of 'The Wormley Worm'. The play 'faithfully' recounts the occasion when St George had to dash back from the Crusades to slay the dragon that was terrorising the village. The historical thread is maintained from the Chiddingfold Pageant of 1922 which depicts the Wormley Worm. However much 'tongue-in-cheek' it may be, the play is performed with enthusiastic amateurism and colourful adornments, according to John Cowburn, aka St George. Performances will be 12noon at The Swan pub and again at The Winterton, both in Petworth Road, Chiddingfold, at 1.15pm. John says: "A tune or two, and many other rousing tributes to Englishness will be sung to further entertain, and a pleasant afternoon will be had by all! All audience participation will be welcomed and indeed encouraged." To mark the actual day, a peal will be rung on the bells of St Mary's Church on the evening of Wednesday, April 23.