Saint George's Day

I would like to wish my English readers, or anyone else from a country which celebrates it, a very happy Saint George's Day.

A Lament for England

With thanks to Rob Atkinson:


Goodbye to my England, So long my old friend

Your days are numbered, being brought to an end

To be Scottish, Irish or Welsh that's fine

But don't say you're English, that's way out of line.


The French and the Germans may call themselves such

As may Norwegians, the Swedes and the Dutch

You can say you are Russian or maybe a Dane

But don't say you're English ever again.


At Broadcasting House the word is taboo

In Brussels it's Scrapped, in Parliament too

Even schools are affected, staff do as they're told

They must not teach children about England of old.


Writers like Shakespeare, Milton and Shaw

The pupils do not learn about them anymore

How about Agincourt, Hastings , Arnhem or Mons

When England lost hosts of her very brave sons.


We are not Europeans, how can we be?

Europe is miles away over the sea

We're the English from England, let's all be proud

Stand up and be counted - Shout it out loud.


Let's tell our Government and Brussels too

We're proud of our heritage and the Red, White and Blue

Fly the flag of Saint George or the Union Jack

Let the world know - we want OUR ENGLAND BACK!!!!


A fine sentiment.

However, all is not lost. After militant Islamists disguised as anti-war protesters disrupted a homecoming parade for British soldiers, several other parades went ahead with huge crowds supporting the troops and not a word of dissent, politically correct or otherwise. Here you can see 150 troops from 9th/12th Royal Lancers (Prince of Wales's) marching through Derby.

With thanks to regular contributor Dr. D for putting me on to this video:

Boris Johnson Allows St. George's Day

Mayor of London Boris Johnson confirmed yesterday that St. George's Day, the day of England's patron saint, will not be ignored as normal, at least not in London.

He plans a week long 'Festival of Englishness', and will even take the unprecedented step of flying the English flag, the Cross of St. George, from City Hall. He has also asked that the city be bedecked with the red and white flag for the whole week.

Johnson, pictured above with an English flag, has been quite clear that he doesn't care if the celebration is not politically correct, and thinks the idea of it offending immigrants is ridiculous. He says the week long celebration should be about celebrating England, the English and their historic achievements.

There will be a reading of Shakespeare's Sonnets at the Globe Theatre to mark the 400 year anniversary of their publication, real-ale tastings, and an English folk music concert in Trafalgar Square amongst other events. Johnson will also take a ceremonial tour of the capital in a London bus.

I'm not sure if this is actually good news, however; I feel it is a cynical attempt to deflect rising criticism of the three main parties for despising our country and culture.

I used to be a supporter of Boris, and certainly saw him as an excellent alternative to Ken Livingstone. After his support of an amnesty for illegal immigrants, however, I see him somewhat differently - a charlatan who tricked his way into office by pretending to be a conservative, like so many before him.

Still, at least he's trying to do his job this time; the Mayor should not despise England and its history like Ken Livingstone did.

Livingstone is responsible for many atrocities; getting rid of Routemaster buses, racially abusing a Jewish reporter, inviting controversial Muslim clerics to speak in London, praising the Chinese for their human rights record.

The one that will always stick in my mind, however, was his 2001 attempt to banish the statues of General Sir Charles James Napier and Major-General Sir Henry Havelock from Trafalgar Square.

Both these men were colonial-era soldiers, mainly associated with British military campaigns in India; the former is most famous for capturing Sindh province, the latter for re-capturing Cawnpore during the Indian Mutiny in 1857.

Livingstone claimed he wanted rid of them because he 'did not know who they were or what they had done'.

I think he did know, though, and that was the problem. They are a symbol of one of the greatest nations, civilisations and empires the world has ever known, and that is why he hated them.

He did not get his way, however, and they remain in Trafalgar Square. One of the pleasures of this St. George's Day celebration will be knowing just how much it is irritating Livingstone, and just how much he regrets losing the election to Johnson.