KNIGHTS jousting and cockney pensioners tucking into traditional fish’n’chips are among St George’s Day celebrations this-afternoon in London’s East End. Even St George himself has been spotted on a white horse riding through the streets

By Mike Brooke

KNIGHTS jousting and cockney pensioners tucking into traditional fish’n’chips are among St George’s Day celebrations this-afternoon in London’s East End.

Even St George himself, or someone who looks like him, has been riding on a magnificent white horse through the streets.

Shoppers in the historic Old Spitalfields Market saw a display of jousting by two expert knights clad in full medieval armour.

St George himself has been riding along the Commercial Street and down Bishopsgate past Liverpool Street station stopping traffic in its tracks, then returning to the Old Market in Brushfield Street for the Olde English display of fighting using historic weapons such as spikes, chains, swords and pole arms.

Market events manager Andrew Sparrow said: “We held a similar event last year when the performers got so much involved so that I’m sure it must really hurt!”

Meanwhile, pensioners are being treated to a slap-up cockney fish’n’chips at a St George’s Day party arranged by Tower Hamlets Community Housing at Bethnal Green’s Zander Court Community centre nearby.

It’s a bit of a knees-up with a traditional East End live band as well as the chip supper wrapped, of course, in newspaper.