Insurance firms rein in plans to use horse
Thursday 11th March 2010, 7:00PM GMT.
Councillor Dan Ashley, Deputy Mayor of Newport, getting prepared for St Georges day.
England’s patron saint is usually depicted as a knight astride his trusty steed – but not in one Shropshire town.
Plans for “St George” to ride through Newport on horseback as part of a day of celebration on April 23 have been scuppered because insurance companies have said no.
Instead an armour-clad St George, who will be played by Newport’s deputy mayor Councillor Daniel Ashley, will have to march through the town on foot.
Peter Scott, from Newport’s St George’s Day committee, said today: “Unfortunately nobody will touch us with a bargepole when it comes to insurance for a horse.
“I looked at three online companies and spoke to two others and they were either far to expensive or said they wouldn’t insure the horse. We also had to involve the police if we wanted the horse because we would have to close the road behind us and that was more money.
“But it’s still going to be a funny and unusual spectacle and we’re grateful for Councillor Ashley for his brave offer of dressing up.”
St George will leave Newport’s Guildhall on April 23 and lead a procession down High Street before he depicts the slaying of the dragon.
Councillor Ashley’s transformation into St George was made possible by Castle Capers party shop on Stafford Street in Newport.
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what about getting 2 lads dressed up in a horse suite? I hope he going to be wielding a rubber sword otherwise ‘elf and safety will have him….
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