St George and the Black Knight visit Rugeley
Residents in a Staffordshire town centre got to enjoy a visit from St George and the Black Knight during celebrations of England’s patron saint.
The two knights, from The Company of Horsemen, visited Rugeley town centre on Tuesday.
They paraded around the town centre for two hours while dressed in shining armour and colourful cloaks. The event was organised and paid for by Rugeley Lotto Events which is a community based organisation. Angi Cooney, a promoter of the local lottery group, said: “It was a really lovely event and the weather was very kind to us.”
It was the seventh year that the St George’s Day event was held in Rugeley. The horses and riders came from The Company of Horsemen which is based in Milwich, Staffordshire.
Spencer Ratclifffe owns the company and was the St George rider. He said: “The ride was very good and residents in Rugeley enjoyed seeing us.”
The horses also gave the riders a run for their money, in terms of their attire, which each animal draped in cloaks. St George’s horses had a white cloak and the Black Rider’s horse was dressed in black.
The St George’s event happens each year thanks to fundraising by Rugeley Lotto Events.
The group raises money through lottery tickets which can be bought at various places in the town.
Half of the prize winnings goes to a winner while the other cash goes to funding events.
The group also funds one summer event each year and Christmas events.
St George’s Day falls on Tuesday every year but celebrations are continuing through the week.
