HUDDERSFIELD Scouts marched through the town centre yesterday to celebrate St George's Day.
Hundreds of Cubs and Scouts from the Huddersfield South- West District paraded through the town, bearing the flags of their troops.
They hold the parade annually in honour of St George, who is the patron saint of Scouts as well as England.
Since 1934, Scouts have held parades and church services on April 25 - two days after St George's Day - to celebrate their achievements and renew their Scout Law and Promise.
The Law and Promise is the pledge made when joining the Scouts.
Yesterday's parade ended at the Parish Church at 3pm.
A special service was conducted by the Rev Catherine Ogle, the Vicar of Huddersfield.
The Scouts and Cubs paraded their flags into the church, then District Commissioner Jim Hunter read the Law and Promise.
Later, a large fabric cross was lowered from the church gallery. The Scouts and Cubs had to help hoist it back up.
Mrs Ogle said: "The idea was to represent the triumph of good over evil, like St George defeating the dragon.
"We try and do it in a different way each time and make it interesting for the kids."
* St George's Day is on April 23.
* St George is famous because of a legend claiming he slayed a dragon that was terrorising a Libyan village. The villagers were so grateful that they converted to his religion, Christianity.
* St George was actually from Palestine but was adopted as England's patron saint in the 14th century.
* He held a high rank in the Roman army under Emperor Diocletian.
* When the Emperor began persecuting Christians, St George quit the Army and complained. He was beheaded.
