Neston celebrates St George’s Day with four-day festival

Apr 22 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Heswall News

NESTON is celebrating England’s patron saint this week with a four-day community festival.

After four months in the planning the event – Neston Spring Festival of St George – starts tomorrow, with two exhibitions on St George, two concerts, an art contest and a celebration of Neston performing arts.

On the day itself – Thursday 23 – an actor portraying St George will be touring Neston schools with a dragon created by the CAN group.

Shops and businesses will be displaying bunting and flags and pubs and cafes will be placing extra emphasis on English food and drink and local produce.

Peter Rossiter, who came up with the idea, told the News:

“It all started when I had dinner with the historian Ken Goodyear and we agreed that we didn’t celebrate Neston, spring or St George enough. We came up with the idea and put it to CH64inc and they agreed to run with it.

“We also wanted to try and get some more interest in the town and bring people together.’’

Mr Rossiter added: “We hope the festival will be an annual event and will help build more of a community spirit in Neston.”

After St George’s school tour celebrations continue on Friday evening with the Mersey Morris Men at Neston Civic Hall and a concert featuring English Songs by English Composers, performed by the West Wirral Musical Society, at Neston Parish Church.

The concert will feature songs by various composers, including Vaughan Williams and John Ireland.

On Saturday Neston High School is hosting Neston Performs! from 11am to 12.30pm, featuring Neston High Junior Band, the Little Actors, Neston Players, Neston Entertainers and school choirs and dancers.

At 7.30pm Neston Ecumenical Singers and Chester Music Society Junior Choir perform the premiere of Mass of the Children by Rutter and Vivaldi's Gloria.

There will be two exhibitions based on the St George story running throughout the festival, one at Neston Library and the other at Neston Church.

The festival has been organised with help from Neston Parish Church, Neston Library, Neston Community & Youth Centre and Neston High School.