The 2009 festival
Download a report of the 2009 festival [PDF]
With the Lions part
The energetic players gave 4 performances of the Ballad of St George & the Dragon around the Borough. Surprised people came to doorways in Rushworth Street as the drums and violin heralded their arrival at Blackfriars Settlement. Here 60 or so ‘Older persons’ and friends and neighbours, after a good roast beef lunch washed down with St George’s beer from Ethiopia, watched as St George tackled the dragon for the first time and the spring princess was released from his belly.
Then a short walk to Red Cross Garden, filled with families and children, just out of school, for 2 more performances – here the small boys learnt to encourage the dragon.
Finally a procession to Southwark Cathedral, gathering people as it went, where tourists, visitors, office workers and a surprised group of clergy from Norway cheered on St George and good will spread around.
At St George’s RC Cathedral
Alex Scott gave a Guided tour of the cathedral before the 12.30 Chapter Mass at which 3 new canons were installed. The relic of St George was carried in procession.
At Southwark Cathedral the focus was on Shakespeare’s nephew and Nell Gwynne rather than St George as Arthur Smith and Rick Jones gave their annual presentation of words and music. However, the cathedral now sells a fine fridge magnet in the shop. The design is from the roundel of St George and the Dragon on the First World War memorial in the retro choir (price £2.99)
Back in Redcross Way John Constable hosted a gathering of those concerned about the future development of the Cross Bones Grave Yard, who remembered the ‘outcast’ poor’ with words and music.
Other evening events included traditional Morris dancing by the local New Esperance Group, Hammersmith, a St George’s Day after work bike ride organised by Southwark Cyclists and Silver, and story telling of tales of courage by Vayu Naidu and Craig Jenkins and others at the Leather Exchange pub.
On Saturday the weather was a bit chilly for a picnic and eventually everyone retreated to the warmth of St George’s Crypt.
Here we enjoyed dances from the Moving Into Age group from Peckham and the Rockingham Somali ladies group. Several Ethiopian ladies prepared coffee in the traditional manner of roasting the beans over a flame first. Activities included making your own St George cake and BOST had brought tiny seedlings of snapdragons to plant up and grow at home.
On display were the entries for the St George Festival competition on the theme of ‘Courage’. Fr Ray Andrews presented the prizes, donated by the Southwark Chamber of Commerce.
On Sunday there was a rousing Eucharist to celebrate St George’s patronal festival – in his sermon Bishop Tom mentioned the themes of Charity, Chivalry and Courage which had featured in entries for the Competition and there was marvellous singing from the City of London Choir, Leoa Academic Male Voice Choir and the St Jude’s School choir.
Before an expansive buffet lunch the Bishop blessed and Bob Skelly, a former mayor, officially opened the new St George Community Space in the crypt of the church.
Over at Blackfriars Settlement the Older Persons were enjoying another lunch and danced their cares away to the strains of the band.
