He is on a one man crusade for England and St George. From cream teas to cricket on the village green, the WI and red double decker buses, Bruno Peek is passionate about his country.

He is on a one man crusade for England and St George.

From cream teas to cricket on the village green, the WI and red double decker buses, Bruno Peek is passionate about his country.

And now, armed with English flag and a £30,000 silver cup, he is launching a national campaign to make St George's Day the biggest event in England's calendar.

Mr Peek, who lives in Lowestoft, has already organised a whole host of successful national events including the Queen's Golden Jubilee, the Millennium celebrations and the Nelson bicentenary celebrations.

He is now hoping his latest mission, the national celebrate St George's Day campaign, will be equally successful - perhaps even achieving an extra bank holiday for the people of England.

Speaking at its launch in London yesterday, he said: “I have always believed England is a great place to live. We have freedom of speech, we have freedom of movement, we have great food, great hospitality and we should celebrate that.

“I want to get everyone in England involved in a national day that is about having pride in the country and the communities in which they live.

“We want people of all nationalities to celebrate our great day, it is not about being English, it is about anyone who calls England their home being proud of that,” he said.

He added: “At 10.45am on April 23 I want everyone in the country to stop what they are doing, raise a glass and drink a toast to England and St George.”

Over the coming months Mr Peek will visit all 50 cities in England with the specially commissioned Loving Cup.

At each city the cup, filled with English apple juice, will be received by the Lord Mayor then citizens will be invited to drink from it in an act of friendship and harmony.

The tour will kick-off in Norwich on February 5, concluding in Westminster on April 23 in time for the major celebrations.

A series of regional and national competitions will also be run alongside the celebrations, which could see people voting for their modern day St George and English rose, having afternoon tea in the strangest of places and decorating their local boozer in red and white.

Mr Peek is also hoping to raise a significant amount of money for the campaign's three nominated charities, Association for International Cancer Research (AICR), RNID representing the nine million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK and the Women's Royal Voluntary Service (WRVS).

He said: “I am just really excited about the tour and the whole event, I think it's going to be great.

“I just want people to get involved and enjoy themselves as well as raising money for three worthwhile causes.”

For more information about the St George's Day events or to download a brochure visit www.celebratestgeorgesday.com. Brochures can also be obtained by writing to The Office, 21 Coverdale, Carlton Colville, Lowestoft, NR33 2NW.