For the first time, local authorities and civic dignitaries, community groups and charities throughout the British Isles are taking part in local flag raising events and ceremonies of dedication to mark Commonwealth Day.
Major General Martin White, Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight presented the Commonwealth flag to the Chairman of the Isle of Wight Council on Monday at a short ceremony in County Hall, Newport. A flag raising ceremony will now take place at 10:00 on Monday 10th March outside County Hall in Newport.
The flag raising ceremony will be led by Councillor Ian Ward, chairman of the Isle of Wight Council.
This new initiative enables people to express their commitment to the Commonwealth, and show an appreciation of the values it stands for, and the opportunities offered to its citizens around the world.
Councillor Ian Ward, chairman of the Isle of Wight Council, said:
“I am delighted to accept this flag on behalf of the people of the Isle of Wight and look forward to flying it to mark Commonwealth Day.”
Lord-Lieutenant of the Isle of the Isle of Wight, added:
“This is a very important day for the Commonwealth and it is very good to see the people of the Isle of Wight supporting this day”
Commonwealth Flags will also be flown at many locations of special significance including the four capital cities of the United Kingdom, Land’s End in Cornwall, the most westerly point in England; St. David’s in Pembrokeshire: the westernmost city in Wales; Carlisle in Cumbria: the northernmost city in England; Lowestoft in Suffolk: the easternmost town in England; and Unst in the Shetland Islands, the most northerly inhabited island in Scotland. Flags will also be raised at the Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula, and at the Halley VI Research Station on the Brunt Ice Shelf, as well as King Edward Point and Bird Island in South Georgia.
Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, pageantmaster and originator of Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth, said:
“This will be the largest, single, raising of the Commonwealth Flag in the history of the Commonwealth.
“The success of this year’s event bodes well for 2015 and the future as we extend the invitation to participate and involve all 53 countries of the Commonwealth and UK overseas territories, to make this the largest-ever annual occasion involving local communities throughout the worldwide Commonwealth family.”
Photo: Isle of Wight Council
