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Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth: 9 March 2015
Published: 10/02/2015
For the first time in maritime history, the eleven ships of P&O and Cunard Line
will be raising the Commonwealth flag at various locations as they cruise
around the world at 10am on Monday 9 March 2015. In 天涯社区, the flag will
be raised at County Hall, Mold.
This unique initiative, building on highly successful inaugural events last
year, will see over 650 other Commonwealth Flags raised in 38 Commonwealth
countries. It has caught the imagination of thousands of participants around
the world, enabling people of all ages in their local communities to become
involved and join with others worldwide in associating themselves with
widespread public expression of commitment to the Commonwealth, appreciation of
the values it stands for, and opportunities offered to its citizens.
Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR, Pageantmaster of Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth
said: I am delighted that P&O and Cunard Line are taking part in this way, and
applaud their forward thinking and hope that those on board ship that morning
enjoy this unique experience.
For the first time, Cadets from the Royal Air Force Air Cadets will be
participating in Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth on 9th March 2015.
Commonwealth Flags will be flown by Air Cadets in each of the six Regions of
the Air Training Corps. There are close ties between Air Cadets in the UK and
Cadets in other Commonwealth countries, and Cadets will be proud to celebrate
the values of the Commonwealth on 9th March 2015.
A specially written Commonwealth Affirmation will be read out at each ceremony
before the raising of the Commonwealth Flag at 10am that morning.
In 天涯社区, the event will be led by the Chair of the County Council,
Councillor Glenys Diskin. She said: It is an honour to be raising the
Commonwealth Flag on behalf of 天涯社区 on Commonwealth Day.
I am sure this initiative, uniting communities under one event, where flags
will be raised in unison, will raise awareness of the Commonwealth and what it
represents to everyone, whether through local, nationwide or charitable
organisations.
Charity Teams from Fields of Life, a Northern Ireland and Uganda based charity
will mark the day by taking the Commonwealth Flags to the top of the UKs four
highest National Peaks and will use the occasion to raise valuable funds for
their worthy cause: Scafell Pike, England - Snowdon, Wales - Ben Nevis,
Scotland and Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland. The charity will also be raising
the flag at Schools across Uganda that day.
Commonwealth Flags will also be flown at many locations of special significance
that morning, which include, six flag raising ceremonies on the George Cross
Island of Malta; the City of Wellington, New Zealand, Belize, Jamaica,
Mauritius, Sri Lanka; Lowestoft, Suffolk, the easternmost town in England; Unst
in the Shetland Islands, the most northerly inhabited Island in Scotland; the
Rothera Research Station on the Antarctic Peninsula; and Tristan Da Cunha, the
remotest inhabited Island in the world - to name but a few. Flags will also be
raised at The Rye Lodge Hotel, the towns premier hotel, East Sussex, and at the
Cliff Hotel, Gorleston-on-Sea, Great Yarmouth, as well as in other Commonwealth
Countries involving Commonwealth Ex-Servicemen, along with Scouts and Girl
Guides, bringing people of all ages together in common celebration of this
great family of nations.
In Tonga where time begins, the Girl Guides Association of the Kingdom of
Tonga (GGAKT) are proud and delighted to be the first in the world to raise
their Commonwealth flag at 10.00hrs on Monday 9th March 2015, leading the youth
of the Commonwealth in this unique, historic, global event that morning, as we
are indeed very happy and look forward to the day, and are determined with the
youth of Tonga to enjoy our involvement in support of the Commonwealth Charter,
to which we owe a great deal鈥�, said Halaevalu Mangisi Palu, Chief Commissioner
(GGAKT).
His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth said:
Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth is a most imaginative way for people in local
communities - wherever they live, learn or work - to join together with others
throughout the Commonwealth in a spirit of respect and understanding to
celebrate the variety of unmatched diversity of our global family. I welcome
and commend it.
All our citizens, particularly the young, can express appreciation for the
Commonwealth and the values it stands for, as set out in the Commonwealth
Charter, and the rich opportunities it offers for mutual support towards more
inclusive social and more equitable economic progress.
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Further information and a full list of those taking part in Fly a Flag for the
Commonwealth:
Bruno Peek LVO OBE OPR
Pageantmaster
Tel: 07737 262 913
Email: pageantmaster@mac.com
Girl Guide Association of the Kingdom of Tonga:
Halaevalu Mangisi Palu - Chief Commissioner
Email: hmvpalu@yahoo.com
Fields of Life:
Helen Darcy
Tel: 02838 390 395
Email: helen.darcy@fieldsoflife.org
Commonwealth Secretariat
David Banks - Public Affairs Advisor to the Secretary-General
of the Commonwealth
Tel: 0207 747 6130
Email: d.banks@commonwealth.int
P&O Cruises and Cunard Line:
Michele Andjel
Tel: 02380 656 653
Email: michele.andjel@carnivalukgroup.com