Let's all take a day to honour our Saint (From Penarth Times)

Let's all take a day to honour our Saint

ST DAVID'S Day is celebrated throughout Wales and schools go to town on the traditional events but isn't it time it was a bank holiday?

Reporter Charles Booth went on to the streets of Penarth to find out what people thought about the issue.

Shirley Samson, of Royal Close, said: "I think there should be a bank holiday. It is a good festival for the Welsh and gives an identity."

Paul Dolan, 58, of Uppercliff Drive, who is a full time musician, said: "I have lived in Holland where they seem to have bank holidays all the time. We don't have as many holidays here. In the rest of Europe they have more bank holidays than we do."

Designer, Andy Bradshaw, 47, of Clive Crescent, said: "I remember doing a lot at school. We should have a bank holiday because it is a day for Wales. "It would be better for businesses if we had a holiday because they could do more."

Former British Gas employee, Gerald Youd, 67, of Bromfield Place said: "I think there should be a bank holiday. I celebrate St David's Day but only by wearing a daffodil in my lapel.

"Sometimes I wish that I had learnt Welsh."

Bromfield Place resident Louise Maidmont, a 28-year-old care worker, said: "There should be more done for St David's Day. It should be more of a celebration than it is. Maybe there could be banners put up in the streets."

Margaret Davies, 61 of Maple Road, said: "It is a day for Wales to assert its national identity.

"I can speak Welsh and I think it is important that people speak the language. My grandson who is three and a half knows a bit of Welsh already.

"Scotland and Ireland have their saints days off so I see no reason why we can't."

Most people in Penarth agree there should be a bank holiday for St David.