Over 1500 young people from 30 schools in Gravesham and Dartford will be taking part in community celebrations through Gravesend and Dartford town centres on April 23 to celebrate Saint Georges Day. The festivities has been organised by Kent Equality Cohesion Council in partnership with Cohesion Plus supported by Arts Council England, Gravesham Borough Council and Dartford Borough Council’s in what will be some of the biggest celebrations taking place in England.

Work has been taking place in local schools over the last 8 weeks to prepare special visual arts and craft displays which will be used during the parade which will also feature the Premier Brass Band, West Hill Morris Dance Troupe, Four by Four Dhol Drummers, a Town Crier and a Saint George in full armor.

The focal point of parade will be a model of Saint George which has been made by local children.

The aim of the events is to celebrate the patron Saint of England and bring together the diverse communities in Gravesham and Dartford to celebrate this important day. The celebrations in Gravesham will take place between 10am and 11.30am and in Dartford between 7am and 9am at Dartford Train Station and then in the Town Centre between 12pm and 3pm.

Gurvinder Sandher the CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council (KECC) who has been working on the celebrations for the past few months commented “As ever we have had an excellent response from the local schools and our community partners. I am very passionate about Saint George’s Day as I believe it is an important way of bringing communities together and celebrating what it means to be English today in a culturally diverse society. We need to all share common values and beliefs and Saint George’s Day is one such opportunity. I hope that the local communities in Gravesham and Dartford will come out and support the celebrations and wave the flag of Saint George.”

Timetable of Activities

Dartford

7am – 9am Premier Brass Band will be performing and Saint George in full armor will be at Dartford Train Station giving out goodies to commuters

Gravesham

10am – 10.30 Brass Band performing on Community Square
10am – 10.30 Morris Dancers and Premier Brass Band performing on High Street outside Old Town Hall
10.30am – 11.30am Schools parade through Town Centre finishing of the Community Square where the Flag of Saint George will be raised

Dartford

12pm – 3pm Free traditional spit roast samples on One Bell Corner
1pm – 1.30pm Brass Band performing on One Bell Corner
1.30pm – 2.30pm Schools parade through the Town Centre finishing on the Bandstand at Central Park

Poster Poster-1