St George’s Day is set to return to Sittingbourne High Street.

Nigel Fosbraey, director of Autowash, Daren Blackbourn, who runs Blackbourn TV and Vic Brobyn, co-owner of The Petshop, have been organising the event on behalf of the retail association since 2005.

It became a major date in the town’s diary after it was launched in 2003 by Woolworth’s manager George Catlin.

But the plug was pulled two years ago due to a lack of financial support and volunteers, along with increasing costs of risk assessment and event management cover.

Now a sub-committee consisting of seven members of the association has been formed to revive the all-day celebration on Saturday, April 26.

Member Andrea Don said: “We have talked about it quite a lot in the past and when we got the Swale council High Street Innovation Fund last year we said it was one of the things we wanted to do.

“Then before Christmas we said we were going to bring it back.

“It has always been one of those things that brings extra people into the town and as it is at the end of spring and the beginning of the summer, people want to go out and do things.

“It’s not a commercial event like Christmas or Halloween. We’re trying to make it something Sittingbourne becomes famous for.

We want to make it big and something people look forward to every year.”

The group met at Phoenix House, Central Avenue, Sittingbourne, last night to discuss ideas and the budget.

Ms Don added: “We’re hoping we can get lots of volunteers.

One avenue could be asking members of the association to contribute but obviously a lot of them are small businesses and they don’t have any spare money although some may donate a raffle prize.

“We’re looking at bringing back best-dressed window because that was very popular, and the classic cars.

“We’ve got Hasna Belly Dance group and we’re speaking to the local Scout Group and The Historical Research Group because they’re interested in getting involved.

“St Michael’s Church has agreed to put on a coffee morning and organ recitals and hopefully someone will be doing a history talk and tour of the church.”

If you have any ideas or want to get involved, email enquiries@nickelbooks.co.uk or info@swalecommunitycentres.org.uk – alternatively, call Sara Seabridge on 01795 426081.

• See next week's paper for more on this story.