Scouts, Guides, to hold annual parade

The Scout Association of Malta and the Malta Girl Guides Association are, for the third time, teaming up to hold their annual parades together.

These events, formerly respectively known as St George's Day and Joan of Arc Day, have long been the showpiece events of the respective associations.

The parade will be held tomorrow and it is estimated that there will be around 4,000 scouts and guides taking part.

There will be 40 scout groups and 30 guide companies, which include 11 Scout Bands.

The event will begin with a Thanksgiving Holy Mass celebrated by Fr Anton Briffa and Fr Marcellino Micallef, at St Publius parish church in Floriana at 9.30 a.m.

At 11.30 a.m. they will march down Republic Street, Valletta, led by the Mosta Scout Group Band.

Of particular note in this year's parade will be the use of a number of scout flags with the colours of the respective locality.

These flags have been re-introduced after an absence of a number of years. Another reappearance will be the mascots of the respective groups.

The parade will be escorted, weather permitting, by three microlight aircraft.

President Guido De Marco, together with Mrs Violet De Marco, who are patrons of the associations, will take the Salute at St George's Square, Valletta at approximately 11.45 p.m.