A LOCAL choir is going to raise the rafters to make sure Basingstoke celebrates St George's Day in style.

Members of Basingstoke Male Voice Choir are putting on a special show at The Anvil on April 23 to mark England's special day, and they will be performing patriotic songs such as Jerusalem and Land of Hope and Glory.

The choir will sing in front of a huge cross of St George and the audience will be encouraged to wave England flags throughout the performance.

The group has been putting on an event to celebrate St George's Day for several years now, ever since the conductor, Welshman David Ogborn, pointed out that while the choir celebrated St David's Day, they did nothing for England's national day.

Gazette Newspapers is campaigning for St George's Day to be celebrated in style and is inviting readers to sign a petition calling for April 23 to be made a national holiday. So far, more than 600 people have signed up.

The petition can be signed at our Church Street and Pelton Road offices and will soon be taken to Parliament.

Barry Allen, publicity officer for the choir, gave his support to our efforts. He said: "The campaign to make St George's Day a national holiday certainly has the backing of Basingstoke Male Voice Choir.

"We would like to see the day get the recognition it deserves, with more events taking place to celebrate it.

"We have made an initial step but one organisation can only do so much.

"We just hope that a traditional concert will bring out the patriotism in people."

Tickets for the concert, which will begin at 7.30pm, are on sale at The Anvil box office, priced at £12 for adults and £10 for concessions.

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

First published: Monday, March 21, 2005