Monday (March 9) was Commonwealth Day – and more than 730 Commonwealth flags were raised throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, the Overseas Territories and Commonwealth countries to mark the day.
Marlborough was one of a number of towns in Wiltshire that took part – flying the flag and reading special messages. The theme for this year’s Commonwealth Day, “A young Commonwealth”, was reflected in the Queen’s message
Before the flag was raised, members of Marlborough Town Council and the Mayor’s Chaplain, Reverend Heather Cooper stood on the Town Hall steps as a message from Her Majesty the Queen and one from His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, was read out by Town Mayor, Councillor Marian Hannaford-Dobson.
A specially written Commonwealth Affirmaiton and a prayer for the peoples of the Commonwealth were read by the Mayor’s Chaplain.
The Commonwealth is close to the Queen’s heart – and the Day always unerlines the values embodied in the Commonwealth Charter. Her Majesty usually attends a multi-fith service at Westminster – as she did on Monday – accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
In 1958 Empire Day was renamed Commonwealth Day to meet the changed values and the new post-colonial relationship between the nations of the former empire and the United Kingdom.
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