Polly has attended the amazing Ramsgate St George’s Day Parade, which starts at the stunning St George’s Church before winding through the town.
The event is a fantastic, inclusive and community-led celebration of pride and patriotism, where people of all ages take part, as well as the local Ukrainian community, and local community and volunteer groups who return year after year to keep this brilliant event alive.
Speaking after the event, Polly said:
“At a time when it feels like all we hear about is anger, division, and upheaval, I could not have asked for a more uplifting antidote than Ramsgate’s wonderful St George’s Day parade in the sunshine. What’s so special about Ramsgate’s St George’s Day parade is that it’s not something put on for the community; it is something created by the community.
St George’s Day has always felt special in Ramsgate, but our message of unity and togetherness feels particularly important after a year in which our national flag has been used by some to sow division and instil fear. St George may be our patron saint, but he wasn’t born here. His story reminds us that belonging is about more than birthplace or background, but about the values we live by: courage, service, and standing up for others. Whether you were born here or drawn here, this amazing event reveals the real meaning of patriotism: pride in our country, our community, and our local traditions, and a commitment to looking out for each other.”
Photo: Frank Leppard