Hundreds of Scouts turn out to honour St George every year on his special day – and 1989 was no exception.

This was the scene in Cowley Road, Oxford, as a brass band led nearly 300 in their smart uniforms in April.

Boys from Littlemore, Rose Hill, Blackbird Leys and East Oxford joined Sea Scouts, Venture Scouts and Beavers in a march from Cowley Marsh to a church service, taken by Father Martin Flatman, in honour of England’s patron saint.

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There was an even bigger turnout in Oxford, where more than 700 boys and girls from the Isis district marched through the city, led by Kennington Silver Band.

They walked from St Giles to the Town Hall in St Aldate’s, returning along the same route to St John’s College, where the Lord Mayor, Queenie Whorley, took the salute.

In Witney, however, there was disappointment when the St George’s Day Parade that year was cancelled because rain was predicted.

About 800 Scouts, Guides, Brownies and Cubs from the town and surrounding villages were due to parade after a 40-minute open air service at Witney Town’s football ground.

Scout officials had heard the weather forecast at 7am that day, with rain predicted to turn to sleet. In the event, it stayed dry all day.

A feast day of St George has been celebrated in England for hundreds of years on April 23, which was possibly the date of his martyrdom.

Following the Battle of Agincourt in 1415, St George’s Day became one of the most important feast days in the English calendar.

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About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

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