It's a sure sign of summer when suddenly it becomes acceptable to wave Union Jacks in public.

I am not talking about the BNP's close shave in the Henley by-election but the Last Night of the Proms concerts springing up in every park, square and town hall in the country.

New Wimbledon Theatre gets into the flag-waving spirit this Sunday with a Best of British gig from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the last in the RPO's current series at the venue.

"I think it is nice to have something people can celebrate without it having adverse connotations," says guest conductor Mark Forkgen, shrugging off any nationalistic undertones.

"One of the nice things about this Wimbledon concert is that it has a lot of the popular stuff - The Sailors' Hornpipe, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory - but some lesser-known pieces as well, for example, Walton's Henry V.

"The atmosphere is guaranteed to be so good that, even if people don't recognise a piece, we know everyone will really enjoy it."

But is it a case of that time again' when Prom-style concerts come around?

"I actually quite enjoy them," says Forkgen. "I don't do as many as some conductors. It is nice to keep them special occasions as a performer, too."

"If you do the same things as a musician, there's a risk of getting stale.

"So you look at the repertoire afresh - shave all the history away and try to see them as pieces of music on the page, rather than part of our culture."

It helps that Forkgen's career offers so much variety: "One of the nicest things is the great mix of music I deal with. Whether it's the RPO, a period concert, or my work at Tonbridge School - next week, I'm conducting Britten's chamber opera, Curly River."

Forkgen has been Tonbridge's Director of Music for two years and also works with Dorset Youth Orchestra and several London ensembles. Nurturing talent is central to his career, he says, and his youthful energy surely helps.

"I think it probably does," says the 39-year-old, whose mentor growing up was RPO organist John Birch. "But one of the greatest thrills is being there as people discover fantastic music. That wonderful buzz you get, that real sense of anticipation over how a piece of music is going to sound.

"I once worked with Ealing Youth Orchestra on Mahler Four - quite something for a youth orchestra. And when we started the slow movement in rehearsal you could hear a pin drop, almost like we were in the real concert."

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Best Of British, New Wimbledon Theatre, The Broadway, July 6, 7pm, £11-£28, call 0870 060 6646, visit newwimbledontheatre.co.uk