Flagging up for patron saint
St George's Day came early with groups in the Black Country area staging events to celebrate England's patron saint and raising cash for good causes.
Members of Quarry Bank's Royal British Legion were at the Merry Hill Shopping Centre in Brierley Hill on Saturday selling roses to shoppers.
And a residents group in Norton held an open day putting up England flags and bunting to mark the occasion with all funds raised going to Action Heart.
The Quarry Bank Royal British Legion event was to bring in cash for the legion's Poppy Appeal.
A similar event last year brought in more than £800 for the appeal and organisers were hoping to bring in more this year.
Stourbridge's MP Lynda Waltho helped out with Saturday's sale joining members for part of the morning.
Events organiser for the branch Gloria Donovan said: "St George's Day tends to be overlooked these days and we wanted to give it something of a boost."
Norton Green Tenants and Residents Association also staged their event on Saturday at the home of one of its members.
People were invited to the house of Janet and Baz Yeates, in Caslon Crescent, Norton, for the event.
The main attraction was a raffle with dozen of prizes donated by businesses and attractions from across the Dudley borough up for grabs.
Amblecote's Geoff Hill Electrical Superstore donated a vacuum cleaner, supermarket chain Asda a kettle and Dudley confectioner Teddy Grays a large jar of pear drops. Mrs Yeates said: "It is a wonderful event and one which raises money for a very good cause."
And Bridgnorth mayor Brian Jones held a Last Night of the Proms-style concert at St James's Hall in the town for his charities.
Banks's brewer Marston's also celebrated the event inviting the London Philharmonic Orchestra and opera divas Elysium to play and sing at its headquarters in Burton upon Trent over the weekend.
In attendance were England's cricket-supporters the Barmy Army.
Events in the area for St George's Day
TOMORROW
St George's Day gala concert at Walsall Town Hall.
THURSDAY
Wolverhampton mayor Councillor Christine Mills will host a charity concert featuring Wolverhampton Brass Band at Linden House, in Tettenhall Road, from 7.30pm.
Dudley Street will be decked out with red, white and blue bunting, the Lady Wulfruna organ will be played by city organist Steve Tovey and Punch Theatre will perform a street play.
More than 100 soldiers will parade through the streets of Dudley. The third battalion of the Mercian Regiment will march. A jazz band and St George and dragon will entertain crowds in the town centre, starting at 1pm.
Singers, street entertainers and a parade will keep crowds entertained in Brierley Hill. A parade will kick off the festivities, starting from Brierley Hill Civic Hall, in Bank Street, at 10.30am. A tea dance will take place at Bank Street Methodist Church from 1.30pm.
In Lichfield there will be a re-enactment of the St George's Court in the Guildhall on Bore Street at midday.
Brierley Hill Civic Hall will play host to the finale, a concert featuring Maggie O'Hara and The Gentlemen Songsters Male Voice Choir. Singer Annie Hodkinson and the band of the West Midlands Fire Service will perform and extracts of Shakespeare's work will be read. Don Maclean will be compere.
Tipton Community organisation will host a brass band sing-a-long, comedian and vocal duo along with a fish and chip supper starting at 7pm.
Robin Hood public house at Drayton, near Chaddesley Corbett, will offer free chip butties and sausages.
FRIDAY
The historic tradition of Walking the Fair will be held in Walsall from 10.30am to 2.30pm, celebrating the role of Walsall's 780-year-old market.
Morris dancers, jesters and children's activities will be in St Paul's Square and Walsall market.
SATURDAY
Free outdoor music festival at Birmingham's Victoria and Chamberlain Squares between 11am and 5pm.
Birmingham's Symphony Hall will play host to a celebratory evening hosted by Express & Star columnist Professor Carl Chinn.
A family fun day in Walsall town centre from 10am to 3pm, where visitors can enjoy a scouts' procession, street theatre and children's activities. Activities will also take place at Walsall Museum, in Lichfield Street, The New Art Gallery, in Gallery Square and the Leather Museum, in Littleton Street.
St Michael's church in Brierley Hill is holding a free family fun day from 10.30am to 3.30pm.
