Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Heartfelt congratulations to our beloved Queen Elizabeth on becoming, last week, the longest ever serving Sovereign of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, surpassing her great-great grandmother Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years and 226 days.

A remarkable achievement and one served with outstanding loyalty and dedication to all of her subjects both at home and throughout the Commonwealth of Nations.

Long may she continue to reign over us and may God bless her with good health and wise counsel.

Since the age of 8 Her Majesty has been my Queen. I still proudly possess the silver Coronation spoon presented to me at our local Coronation sports day. Many years later I was on uniformed police duty when she visited Plymouth during her Silver Jubilee celebrations in 1977.

I also thank God for the whole Royal Family and HRH Prince Philip in particular for his constant love and support of Her Majesty throughout her extremely long reign.

St. George Patron Saint of England

Thursday, 23rd April, 2015

St. George was an extremely fine Roman soldier who, apart from the myth of slaying the dragon; was, according to many academic scholars, tortured and executed by beheading in 303.AD by Emperor Diocletian for refusing to relinquish his Christian faith. He did however, bequeath his wealth to the poor before paying the ultimate sacrifice, hence his subsequent elevation to Sainthood.

The Plantagenet King Edward III of England (1327 - 1377) adopted St. George as his hero and took the red cross of St. George as his military banner into several victorious battles. Following the battle of Agincourt in 1415 the former King decreed that St. George would become a national feast day and it has remained so ever since.

In the present day when we are seeing so many Christians being persecuted and executed by extreme religious fundamentalists in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, it is more important than ever that we commemorate our Patron Saint. We must stand together and be proud to be patriotic to our beloved country.

"God for Elizabeth, England and St George"!

Happy St. George's Day to all English folk everywhere