A NEW society dedicated to the country's patron saint will hold a lavish patriotic party on St George's Day — complete with a 'ceremony of the beef' and a sword fighting display.

The town's newly-formed branch of the Royal Society of St George will hold its inaugural sell-out dinner on April 23 at Bolton School Arts Centre — where Bolton opera singer Antonia Sotgiu will belt out traditional English songs.

And earlier in the day, the society's chairman, businessman Chris Houghton, will be handing out red roses on Bolton Town Hall steps.

Mr Houghton, managing director of IT support company Eventura, is a long-time supporter of celebrating St Georges Day and always gives his staff the day off — a perk which is written into their contracts.

He said: “I’m a Boltonian who is very proud of his heritage and his country.

“The Royal Society is all about that, and about philanthropy.”

The new group of the Royal Society of St George, which is non-political and totally inclusive, was created last year.

Mr Houghton believes celebrating all the great things about England and supporting local community projects is hugely important.

He wants the society to raise “relatively small sums of money that still make a big difference".

And Mr Houghton believes his red rose gesture will be "a pleasing reminder about Lancashire and all its history".

* For more information abut the Society go to rsosg.co.uk

THE HISTORY OF ST GEORGE

• Most authorities agree that George was born in Cappadocia in what is now Turkey in about 280AD

• He enlisted in the Cavalry of the Roman Army at the age of 17 during the reign of Emperor Diocletian

• He quickly established a reputation for virtuous behaviour, physical strength and valour and achieved the officer’s rank of Millenary or Tribunus Militum in charge of 1,000 men

• Diocletian revived the traditions and paganism of Rome at a time of increasing unrest amid the influence of Christianity

• When a rumour suggested that Christians were plotting to kill his second-in-command, Galerius, the Emperor ordered the destruction of all the Christian churches

• George had become a convert to Christianity and tried to limit the excesses of Diocletian’s actions, showing compassion towards his victims and denouncing the unnecessary cruelty the Emperor employed

• Diocletian’s answer was to consign George to prison, with instructions that he be tortured until he denied his faith. George refused and defended his Christianity; he was beheaded in April, 303AD

• Stories of his courage soon spread to other countries and he was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church

• His reputation for brave and chivalrous conduct was the spiritual inspiration of the Crusaders, and a red cross on a white or silver background became the means of recognising the English knights

• In 1415AD, St George became the patron saint of England when English soldiers under Henry V won the battle of Agincourt

• The pennant of the Cross of St George has been flown throughout history. Legends about his bravery extended to the town of Silene in Libya where St George was said to have slaughtered a dragon that terrorised the local population – a powerful and enduring allegory of the triumph of good over evil