St George’s Day Celebration – Sunday 26th April 2026 – Lyndhurst
Originally published on 1st March 2026. Updated on 7th April 2026.
Parade
Time – The parade will start at 2pm promptly due to the conditions of the road closure. Please arrange your section to meet at an appropriate time to be ready to leave at 2pm. The celebration will approx be about 45 minutes.
Location & Route – The parade will leave from Appletree Court (NFDC offices) and come out on to Beaulieu Road and then up the High Street, where the Squirrels and Beavers will veer off to the Community Centre where they will have their celebration, and the remaining sections will continue to the church. This is a different route to previous events.
Parade Order – We have decided to march in alphabetical order this year, meaning Ashurst & Colbury will lead, followed by Burley, Copythorne, Eling, Fordingbridge, Forres Manor, Lyndhurst, Netley Marsh, Poulner, Ringwood, Sandleheath, Testwood and finally the District Explorers.
Attendance – while we appreciate that we will have no idea of numbers attending until very near the day, we would like to have an idea of what sections from each group will be attending so we can plan. Please let the organising team know ASAP.
Road Marshalls – Finally we are on the lookout for some parents that would be willing to help with the road closures in both directions, they would just need to marshal the road while the parade goes by and then re-open it. Without the help we will not be able to run the event due to the conditions by the New Forest District Council. We are asking each section attending to supply 2 parent helpers to assist with the road closures.
Celebration services
Theme – Bravery
Renewing of the promise – We are going to give this to the Young Leaders to lead the Promises. If you have a YL that would be happy to stand and lead the promise, again please let Kevin know as soon as possible, also with what section they are with. In the event of a lot of volunteers, we will draw names out of a hat.
Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and volunteers in St. Michaels and All Angels Church
Readings – we are looking for young people to do some readings in the church during the celebration, if you have anyone in your section that would be confident enough to stand up in front of people to read one of these, please can you let Kevin know as soon as possible.
Rehearsal – We have arranged for a rehearsal in the Church at Lyndhurst for the flag bearers and the readers. Please pass on the timings to the flag bearers and once we confirm the readers once we get the replies in. Rehearsal is on Wednesday 22nd April – 6pm for Flag Bearers & 6.30pm for Readers. The timings of the celebration will need to be very slick, especially around the flag setting down, so it would be beneficially for them to attend.
Squirrels and Beavers in Lyndhurst Community Centre
Songs and Activities – We want to make the session for our younger members as interactive and exciting as possible. Please can I ask that each section and group bring their own colouring pens/pencils as the YP will be colouring some pictures.
Flag Bearers – You will need to choose a flag bearer and 2 escorts please. Once you reach the community centre, flag bearers and escorts will need to stay in the foyer whilst you take your sections into the hall. Once everyone is in, flags can walk through and then go and join their sections. There will be a leader in the foyer to guide the young people that are carrying the flags.
Organisation at the Community Centre – Please can you sit Squirrels on the right as you go in, and Beavers on the left. The Scout Active Support Unit will be there to help with this. Please leaving a gap down the middle when sat on the floor, so that flags can walk down and then go and join their sections. Once the service is over, we will be going out of the community centre (again in alphabetical group order) but Emma Hanslip will lead the Squirrels and Beavers out to and down the High Street, joining the rest of the groups. We will let the band go, and then we will all file in behind the band, then the rest of the parade will follow behind.