Sandwell’s St George’s Fun Parade Cancelled!

Submitted by: Steadfast news correspondent, 23rd Feb 09

One of England's largest St George's Day parades is set to be called off after Sandwell Council withdrew its funding claiming the event attracts a small group of extremist supporters.

This event was enjoyed by approx 15,000 people in 2008 and having been funded by the council for several successful years is sadly now considered 'racist' by the current council members of Sandwell.

One of the key opponents to the parade is Labour councillor Yvonne Davies and the Steadfast Trust has dispatched a letter of complaint to her regarding her views:

In a letter to the parade organizers, Yvonne Davies, said the parade created an 'unhealthy atmosphere' and inspired young boys to be racist. She wrote: 'It is not only the parade which is the problem, but the tribal excitement it creates.'

Councillor Davies wrote in her letter: 'I am sure most are very respectful and law-abiding, however some are distasteful in the extreme and wish to divide and separate people from each other.'

'I have seen first hand how the parade (albeit unintentionally) creates an unhealthy atmosphere.'

While all can sympathise with any rare, unfortunate experiences the councillor has had, it is quite incredible to use such an excuse as a means to deprive the large number of decent people who wish merely to celebrate the patron saint of their nation. Even with up to 15,000 people attending the event trouble was virtually non existent. The Steadfast Trust has dispatched a letter of complaint to this councillor (shown below).

There is a sense of double-standards being used by Sandwell Council; if the parade was in celebration of another community’s culture or religion then we would doubt that the language used to describe this St.George’s Day parade would be so applied. Using language such as “tribal” and creating “an unhealthy atmosphere” would certainly be frowned upon by other community leaders and possibly considered racist in itself.

As a result of such opinions Sandwell Council has therefore withheld the £10,000 grant needed to cover the costs of the event.

Trevor Collins of the Stone Cross Saint George Association (http://stonecrossstgeorge.webeden.co.uk), which organizes the parade, said: ‘To suggest the parade is racist is ridiculous and offensive.’

Another organizer, Mark Cowles said the parades had raised £7,000 for charity. He added that, as well as losing out on council support, they had probably missed the deadline for applying for road closures.

‘All we wanted to do was organize a fun, family-friendly day for everyone that celebrates being English.’

The fight is not lost, and the Steadfast Trust has pledged £1,000 towards covering the costs of the Stone Cross Association (this on condition that the parade will have sufficient funds to take place and that allocated money is properly accounted for) and a number of our supporters will help where we can to ensure that this hugely successful event continues for many years to come.

In attempting to ban this parade – apart from its callous disregard of the English – it actively seeks to discourage the strong communal bonds we have as a community, our sense of identity and the self-respect and communal pride that flows from it. Where the council apparently see the parade, which is organised and run by local people as “unhealthy”, we would argue that it should instead be viewed as something positive and as a platform to encourage a stronger sense of community in that area.

----------------Letter to Councillor----------------

16 Park Road
Bearwood
West Midlands
B67 5HS

Contact number: 0121 420 1519
Email: ydavies16@btinternet.com

Dear Councillor Yvonne Davies

The Steadfast Trust is the newly formed and the only registered charity committed to the well-being of the English people. The purpose of the charity is to assist in the following areas:

• Education / Training
• Medical / Health / Sickness
• Relief of Poverty
• Arts / culture

With this is mind we are contacting you with regard to the various attacks made upon the hugely successful St George’s Day Parade. These attempts to prevent the English celebrating their patron saint seem directly aimed both against the culture and education of the people of Sandwell and the English in general (and all other cultures who would celebrate St.George).

It would seem from your comments that in order to prevent a minority of those deemed to behave “tribally” and who create “an unhealthy atmosphere” that you are ready to curtail the fun and community spirit of the majority.

Parades are marvellous at bringing communities together and the celebration of one’s cultural heritage through such activities helps young people, in particular, to feel part of a greater body and spirit within society. It helps to encourage a stronger sense of identity and self-respect for the peaceful and law-abiding majority.

Many communities around the country recognise the need for such events. For example the Notting Hill Carnival in London and the Diwali Festival of Leicester are respected events attended by hundreds of thousands of people, but all have begun with a few thousand attending. (The Notting Hill Carnival is plagued by violence but it is assumed that because the majority simply wish to have fun and bond together and are celebrating their culture – the “show must go on”. Compare such violence with youths creating “an unhealthy atmosphere” and your case for non-funding seems faintly ridiculous.

10,000 people journeying to Sandwell and in the course of the family events spending £20 per head in the local economy would mean £200,000 generated for local businesses (especially welcome during these difficult economic times). But this parade is much more about community spirit.

As a councillor your duty is to serve the wellbeing of the various communities and as the English are probably most populous (unfortunately the ONS do not record the English as a statistic) then perhaps you have a greater duty towards them. Towards us.

I am sure you will be pleased to know that the Steadfast Trust will be offering a grant to the Stone Cross St George Association to the sum of £1,000 towards the £10,000 target required for the parade’s costs. Is it too late for you and Sandwell Council to show wisdom and maturity and back this event? If nothing else it might make perfect political sense!

Yours sincerely


Julien Crighton
Trustee of the Steadfast Trust