Last orders at the Bard! Patriotic pub landlady Theresa Lee is challenging punters to get poetic "for Harry, England and St George".

Theresa, of Ardleigh's Crown Inn, wants visitors to pen Shakespearean sonnets to celebrate St George's Day today

The patron saint of England's day - April 23 - is also the Great Bard's birthday.

Ode to the Crown - Theresa Lee, landlady of the Crown Inn, Ardleigh, and barmaid Vanessa Hempstead try to come up with a Shakespearean poem for St George's Day. Picture: STEVE BRADING

Innkeeper Theresa said: "Our inn is very traditional and we thought that this would be the perfect place to celebrate such an English day.

"We are hoping that guests will come up with a really original verse about the inn.

"To make it even more of a challenge, the verse must mention the name of the inn, and mark the Saint's day, St George."

Theresa has even booked a special prize for the winning poet.

The writer of the best verse will receive a book containing all of Shakespeare's sonnets and have the honour of seeing their work on blackboards around the inn for everyone to admire.

Anyone wanting to take up the challenge should hand in their verse to Theresa at the Crown in Old Ipswich Road.

Published Wednesday, April 23, 2003

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