DEAR EDITOR - This blessed plot, this beautiful England, has long attracted immigrants to its shores and until recent times many of them have been Irish.

We are therefore all familiar with the St Patrick's Day parades and the sporting of shamrock leaves.

Our island now has a very diverse, rich cultural society composed of Europeans, Asians, Afro-Caribbeans and Middle-Eastern people, in addition to Australians, South Africans, North Americans and others.

Understandably, these people affectionately remember - and like to celebrate - the customs of their original homelands and we are the richer for witnessing them.

What a great pity it is, therefore, that we English are frowned upon by the politically-correct establishment for having the temerity to announce our own pride in our English heritage - in case we offend the ethnic groups! What rot!

This country has been CHOSEN by them as their new homeland - why on earth should our customs offend them?

My purpose in writing to you now is to appeal, through the medium of your newspaper, to all residents of Bromsgrove and Droitwich to fly the flag of St George, England's patron saint, on Tuesday, April 23.

No doubt someone will point out that poor old St George has been discredited (like everyone else on a pedestal these days), but I don't care, he's still synonymous with England.

Perhaps we do now have crumbling public services, etc., but we have a wonderful heritage and a beautiful country.

Let's be proud of it and show that we are proud to be English.

Elsa Slim (Mrs),

Alcester Road,

Lickey End,

Bromsgrove.