MEMBERS of the Haslemere branch of the Royal Society of St George met early in the morning at Haslemere station last Saturday (April 23) for St George’s Day.

Members were joined by Camelsdale Primary School headteacher Sarah Palmer, head boy Toby, head girl Elsa and deputy head boy Harry for a trip to London for the first national St George’s day parade for the society in three years. A new tradition was started on the train to London – the Camelsdale pupils handed out red roses to female passengers and the guard, who said the rose had made his day.

The parade was held at the Cenotaph in Whitehall and at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in Westminster Abbey to commemorate the English dead of all conflicts. A two-minute silence was observed in London at 11am.

There then followed a wreath laying ceremony on the western steps of the Cenotaph, led by Joanna Cadman, national chairman of the society and Haslemere branch member, and the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Councillor Andrew Smith.

Wreaths from Haslemere were laid by branch treasurer Martin Coakley and Camelsdale school representatives. All then transferred across to Westminster Abbey where a private service was held under the direction of Rev. Anthony Ball, and a further wreath was laid by Mrs Cadman.

The Haslemere branch’s next big project is organising the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee window dressing competition for the Haslemere Festival committee for the week from May 28.