Support builds for St George's Day campaign
The campaign to make St George's Day into a special day is now getting consumer support from national newspaper The Telegraph.
The newspaper is to join The Publican in partnering brewer Charles Wells to raise awareness of the Saint's Day in the run-up to April 23 2006.
The newspaper will be highlighting the day with a launch of a daily countdown on March 17, and will be promoting the day to its readers nationwide.
Support will come in the shape of a competition, run in conjunction with Charles Wells, to fund a party to celebrate - this can be anything from a street party to a party in a pub.
Sarah McGhie, spokeswoman from Charles Wells, said: "The national media are getting on board. They have seen the way the pub trade has embraced this. Pubs have got behind this campaign and pushed it onto the agenda.
"Now we are hoping that other brewers will get behind it."
Licensees have responded passionately to The Publican's call to get behind St George's Day and have thrown their support behind the occasion.
Susan Clarke, licensee of the Coachhouse Inn, Kirkby Mallory in Leicestershire said: "Perhaps a St Georges Day pub fund could be organised, and money raised through events, both local and national.
"We at the Coachhouse Inn would certainly support all efforts to make common sense reign."
Like many licensees planning special events for the day, Paul Englefield, licensee of the Chequers, Potters Bar said he valued St George's Day as a national celebration.
"I don't do St Patrick's Day. I'm an ex-solider and St George is our patron saint - he's the one we support.
"We do spam fritters to give the pub the feel of the 1940s and we get Bombardier in. I would back any attempt to make more of St George's Day - it's great for business! Don't sweep it under the carpet."
Charles Wells has also issued a challenge to Gordon Brown to put his support behind St George's day as a national day.
This follows a speech made by the chancellor who claimed that Britain should have a day to celebrate its national identity.
Gordon Brown called on people to take back the Union flag from the far right and said "the flag should be a symbol of unity and part of a modern expression of patriotism."
Sarah McGhie, spokeswoman for Charles Wells said: "I challenge Gordon Brown to find a better day to inject patriotism."
