Today the Streets of Brighton, like last weekend will be taken over by scores of people wanting to express their ideas and be seen by others for doing so. Last weekend we had the notorious March for England and its familiar counter demonstration involving 100’s. This weekend there will 1000’s on both the March itself and thronging the side Streets of the City with barely a Police Officer in sight. The small number of Police Officers attending will not require the so called Nato Helmets, there will be no Horses, no Dogs and if the Helicopter is used it will be to ensure that the traffic is not getting out of control, not searching for roaming groups who should otherwise be on the March. If only we could have something just as enjoyable to celebrate St Georges Day! The Childrens Parade brings together the enormous creativity of all of the Primary Schools in the City and beyond, and puts it on public show. This is surely the work that should be seen by OFSTED as one of the great things that these Schools do for their community.  A couple of years ago when I visited the assembly point for some of the groups I met Schools from as far afield as Burgess Hill, this Parade has an impact that is numerically and geographically at least as significant as any other event that takes part in Brighton.

Whilst the City could not sustain two such events a week or a fortnight apart on the scale or route of the childrens parade, why can’t we come up with something that enables our Youth groups to be heard and seen on the Sunday they have historically chosen, St Georges day to bring the same level of joy and energy to the city that todays Parade achieves. The childrens Parade is quite properly something for Primary Schools, St Georges day could give us a day to celebrate the work of groups such as Scouts and Guides, along with the various Cadet groups, but also the groups that do not choose to wear uniforms, young people who might not want to be part of a procession but who could be encouraged to have their culture celebrated in the same way as today we will celebrate the culture of our youngest school children.