by Hans Chow

Dartford council has released a teaser video in the run-up to St George’s Day.

It features an array of local personalities in a collective rendition of the patriotic poem Jerusalem.

Business leaders, sports club members and local town stalwarts have come together ahead of the English national day on Monday.

The minute-long video was the brainchild of Cohesion Plus, a regional community arts and events organisation, and was filmed at various locations in Dartford.

The aim of the video is to promote this year’s St George’s Day parade, held in both Gravesend and Dartford, from 9.30 am to 11.30am and from 12.45pm to 2.30pm, respectively.

Parades featuring seven schools from Dartford and 14 from Gravesham and bringing together more than a thousand young people will be held.

The 21 local schools will be partnering with community arts charity Same Sky Arts to create visual art pieces in the build-up to the event.

Gurvinder Sandher, the artistic director of Cohesion Plus and CEO of Kent Equality Cohesion Council, said: “We have had the privilege to organise some great St George’s Day celebrations in Gravesham and Dartford over many years and this year is no exception.”

Mr Sandher has been organising St George’s Day celebratory events since 2008 with a small team of volunteers.

“I am always humbled by how well received the events are as it’s such an excellent example of communities coming together to celebrate our shared values.

“We’ve loved working with Dartford Council on their St George’s Day parade for many years and it just gets better and better,” he added.

The parades have attracted innumerable visitors in the past, and are of the largest to take place nationally.

Gravesend's parade is scheduled to march through St George’s Square to the town centre, and to finish at Community Square; while in Dartford, it will depart from the Civic Centre, pass through the town centre, and finish at Central Park.

There will be live music, including African and Asian folk performances, as well as a St George impersonator and large scale Gwynhaff the dragon.

Jeremy Kite, the leader of the Dartford council, said: “I know that not all councils celebrate St George’s Day with the enthusiasm that we do, but we’re proud and delighted to do it.

“Dartford is a vibrant, diverse town, and it doesn’t matter whether you are a born-and-bred Dartfordian or if your life’s journey has brought you to our town.

“Happy St George’s Day to Dartfordians everywhere."