Ref. 29994-21ALEX EMERY asks why the English will happily sup a pint for St Patrick, but seem to be apathetic about celebrating their own patron saint's day

People as far afield as Australia celebrate St Patrick's day, and St David has his fair share of followers too.

But when it comes to England's patron saint the celebrations seem to be few and far between.

Brave St George the dragon-slayer has his day today but it will be ignored by many English people.

Lloyd James, chairman of The Royal Society of St George Wiltshire Branch, thinks it's a shame.

The Society was founded in 1894 and now has more than 10,000 members around the world.

Mr James set up the Wiltshire branch on St George's Day 2003 the 1,700th anniversary of the martyrdom of St George.

This year the branch has been busy organising a succession of events around the county to ensure St George's Day is properly celebrated in Wiltshire.

He said: "For too long St George's Day has been overlooked, yet it is an excellent opportunity for people to celebrate their national day.

"It is easy for pubs to jump on St Patrick's band wagon by exploiting the trade for Guinness and Irish whiskey. But England has so many natural products of its own to offer. There's just so much to celebrate."

Red rose buttonholes, England's national flower, were today being offered to the public in exchange for a donation to the National Osteoporosis Society at the St George's Day Festival, in Salisbury's medieval Market Square.

The celebrations then head to Marlborough tomorrow where a traditional English dinner of roast beef will be served up at the Ivy House Hotel from 7.30pm. There will also be some traditional old English entertainment, for the ticket price of £17.50.

Meanwhile it seems that only a handful of youngsters from across the borough are celebrating St George's Day.

Youngsters from Gorse Hill Infant School have been creating the St George's Cross, and learned about the legend in a special assembly today.

Year 2 leader Pam Wiggins, who will take the assembly, said: "St George's Day is their heritage so it's important to make children aware of it.

"We do a lot of multi-cultural learning so it seems only right that they should learn about their own country.

"I'm Welsh and St David's Day is much more recognised than St George's Day."

Last week the Advertiser told how Robb Forty, 39, of Devizes Road, boasts a tableau of tattoos showing England's patron saint in his legendary battle with a fearsome dragon. His latest one was due to be finished today. The building supplies contractor said: "The design is almost complete there is just some minor work to add to the St George's flag."

And George Arkell, a director of Arkell's Brewery, said he was pleased to have something in common with our patron saint: He said: "It's wonderful to be a George on St George's Day. It makes me feel very patriotic and another very good reason to celebrate with a pint of Arkell's."

For more information about The Royal Society of St George, or to request tickets for events, call Lloyd James, on 01793 827620.

Alex Emery