PATRIOTIC borough mayor Councillor Gwen Richardson is doing her bit to honour St George by holding the annual mayor's ball close to the day of England's patron saint.

This year's annual charity ball for the Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane will be held at The Anvil on Friday, April 22 - on the eve of St George's Day.

The event will consist of a four-course meal followed by a dance, with music provided by the Len Phillips Big Band.

Cllr Richardson is backing Gazette Newspapers' campaign for St George's Day to be properly celebrated.

She said: "It is about time the people of England celebrated St George's Day properly. I am certainly behind The Gazette's campaign to get more recognition for the day.

"St George is our patron saint, and there should be special celebrations taking place to mark his day.

"The mayor's office has been doing something to celebrate St George's Day for a number of years and I was only too happy to continue this."

The Mayor's St George's Day Charity Ball is a black tie event and the money raised will go to the Mayor's Charity Appeal.

The charities to benefit this year are SeeAbility's Heather House project in Tadley and the National Children's Home in Linden Avenue, Basingstoke.

Heather House is a nursing and social care service for young adults with visual impairments and profound multiple difficulties.

The National Children's Home provides a safe home for young people aged between 12 and 19 with severe learning difficulties.

If you are planning a special event to celebrate St George's Day, please contact John Boyman on 01256 337410 or e-mail editor@basingstokegazette.co.uk

First published: Friday, March 25, 2005