Best to let questions over patron saint lie

THE problem with patron saints is that they are all so old their legends or achievements are shrouded in the mists of time and often have no connection with the people and places that claim their patronage.

Yes, I’m talking about St George again.

I would have moved on but Dave Whitworth of Mount sent me an email. “You mentioned that Denis is the patron saint of France and Paris. He is patron saint of France but the patron saint of Paris is Genevieve, incidentally the name of one of my granddaughters.”

Actually, Dave and me are both correct as Paris has three patron saints: St Denis, St Genevieve and St Marcel. See what I mean about the mists of time? Paris should be congratulated for having three locals to honour, because most places pick saints with no connections at all.

Like our own St George, a Roman soldier from Turkey. His name became embedded in our history thanks to Shakespeare, whose Henry V urged his troops to go “once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more” with the call: “Cry God for Harry, England and St George.”

Battle cries don’t get much better than that.

The choice, though, was arbitrary, a decision in which ordinary people had no say.

Would it be different if we had a referendum to choose a new patron “saint”, without the trappings of religion? Who would best sum up the spirit of England?

Eleven years ago, Huddersfield

University posed that very question.

Not too surprisingly, Winston Churchill, a war hero who made great speeches, topped their survey, followed by Will Shakespeare himself. Others included Stephen Fry, Billy Bragg, Ian McKellen, David Attenborough, Terry Pratchett, Joanna Lumley and Elizabeth I.

Amazingly, Roy Chubby Brown, that bluest of blue comedians, was proposed.

Queen Victoria was also on the list and would definitely not have been amused.

All in all, I think we should leave well alone with St George. He has given us a soccer flag and a name that remains popular with monarchs, populace and popular culture, from George Michael to George Formby, and it will save us changing Shakespeare’s immortal lines.

“Cry God for Harry, England and Saint Chubby” doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.

Would it be different if we had a referendum to choose a new patron “saint”, without the trappings of

religion?