SIR – Speaking as a long-standing English nationalist incensed by the appropriation of my nationhood by the idiot fringes of fascism, I welcome the Centenary Square celebration of our national day (and Shakespeare’s birthday) on April 23, though I shall be out of town that day and unable to join in the festivities.
However, the fact that English traditional folk song and dance seems to have played no part in the programming seems strange to me, especially since Bradford boasts the oldest surviving folk club in the world, the Topic.
It would be interesting to know if the St George’s Day organisers thought of finding out about the many fine traditional singers and dancers who live in West Yorkshire.
But, since St George was actually a Palestinian, I also don’t think we should be too Little Englander about our national day.
It could also be an opportunity to celebrate that multi-culturalism which David Cameron and the Right seem to hate so much.
Karl Dallas, Church Green, Bradford
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