Sevenoaks flies the flag for the Commonwealth

BOTH Sevenoaks District Council and Sevenoaks Town Council held flag raising ceremonies to celebrate Commonwealth Day on Monday, 11 March.

West Kingsdown Primary School children with the Commonwealth Flag and Cllr Pat Bosley at the district council offices.

Local schoolchildren, Westerham Sea Cadets, and veterans were amongst the guests who joined Council Chairman, Cllr Pat Bosley, at the district council offices in Argyle Road, and Sevenoaks Town Mayor Roderick Hogarth at the town council offices in Bradbourne Vale Road.

The day is an international celebration of the Commonwealth of Nations marked by a multi-faith service at Westminster Abbey in London, usually attended by Queen Elizabeth II as Head of the Commonwealth.

At the Sevenoaks District Council’s offices, the Commonwealth flag was raised at 10am by Heidi Tapsell and Heather Kettle from Westerham Sea Cadets. Pupils from St John’s Primary School in Sevenoaks and West Kingsdown Primary School attended along with the Deputy Lieutenant, Douglas Horner, residents and council staff.

Westerham Sea Cadets Heidi Tapsell and Heather Kettle who raised the flag at the district council offices.

Sevenoaks District Council Chairman, Cllr Pat Bosley, said: “This day is about celebrating the unity and inclusivity of the Commonwealth and I was delighted to be part of a global event that is taking place across Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe. It gives us the chance to appreciate the Commonwealth and what it stands for.”

The Mayor of Sevenoaks, Councillor Roderick Hogarth, was joined at Sevenoaks Town Council Offices by Westerham Sea Cadets and 2158 (Sevenoaks) Squadron ATC to raise the Commonwealth Flag.

Commonwealth Day had a special significance this year as it marks the 70^th Anniversary of when the nations of the Commonwealth agreed to move forward together as free and equal members and the theme of this year’s event was ‘A Connected Commonwealth’.

Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth is an occasion to acknowledge publicly and collectively the continuing aspiration of the Commonwealth to build on common traditions and uphold shared values of democracy, inclusive development and respect for diversity.