Medieval march for revellers

The Sandwell borough's April 22 parade – one day before St George's Day – will feature a host of medieval entertainment, including the chance to try archery.

Singing "plague victims" will serenade revellers at the parade's culmination in West Bromwich's Dartmouth Park, while more up-to-date entertainment will be on offer in the form of the Pat Collins Fun Fair.

Organised by Stone Cross St George's Day Association and Sandwell Council, the Forever England, For Everybody festival's precursor parade will be also following a new and slightly easier route to Dartmouth Park.

Trevor Collins, of the Stone Cross St George's Day Association, said that the parade's new route would see the same starting point in Westminster Road, Stone Cross, but would progress along a new route along Walsall Road to Dartmouth Park.

"We'd like to throw open an invitation to all Sandwell residents to come and join in the parade," he said. "We are delighted with our new flatter route this year."

The starting time will be 10.40am, and there will be numerous bands and organisations participating.

Councillor Linda Horton, Sandwell's culture boss, said the plan for this year's celebrations was to try something "a little different".

"There will be a living history encampment and demonstrations from cooking to candle-making, from tablet weaving to fletcher and arrow making, from ceramics to musical instruments," she said.

"Visitors will really come away with a taste of life in the Middle Ages. They can even try their hand at archery, listen to singing plague victims, and meet a few market rogues, not forgetting St George himself, of course."

Other attractions at Dartmouth Park will include the Langley Band, morris dancing, Poetry Wednesbury, and a market.