The Lord Mayor of Chester joined thousands of people across the world in a shared celebration of Commonwealth Day 2018.
The Lord Mayor, Councillor Razia Daniels, raised one of around 1,000 Commonwealth flags at 10am on Monday, 12 March, as part of the Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth initiative, now in its fourth year.
This initiative aims to be a collective public expression of commitment to the Commonwealth.
Councillor Daniels said: “It is a huge honour and a privilege to be raising the Commonwealth Flag at Chester Town Hall on 12 March at the same time as hundreds of other flags are being raised across the Commonwealth.
“It is very special to me as I was born in Tanzania, which makes up one of the 53 countries in the Commonwealth.
“I am honoured to be raising the flag which promotes the understanding of global issues, international co-operation, the work of commonwealth organisations and friendship and cooperation with fellow commonwealth young and old citizens around the world.”
This year’s theme, Towards a Common Future, explores how the Commonwealth can address global challenges and work to create a better future for all citizens through sustainability, safety, prosperity and fairness.
A personal message from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland QC, and a specially written Commonwealth Affirmation, was read out at each ceremony before the raising of the flag. In a common act of witness around the globe members reaffirmed the commitment of all Commonwealth member states to democracy, development, and respect for diversity.
Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Originator and Commonwealth Pageantmaster of ‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’, said: “I am amazed how quickly this event has caught the public imagination in the UK and around the Commonwealth. We are only in our fourth year, and the participation of so many people of all ages and from all walks of life shows the enormous potential of this project and of the Commonwealth. It is a positive and uplifting way for people to link with and assist fellow citizens of the Commonwealth in a family that spans across oceans and continents. There is a real sense of promise, and hope for the future in this current troubled world of ours.”
The Lord Mayor of Chester, Cllr Razia Daniels, celebrates Commonwealth Day with pupils from Belgrave Primary School