Local residents have been invited to join in a special celebration and Fly the Flag in the Market Place on March 12th at 9.45am.

They will be joined by schoolchildren from St Joseph's and Ashfield Park Primary Schools for a special event celebrated by people all over the world, as more than 1,000 flags will be raised across the Commonweath, in a shared celebration of this amazing family of nations that encompasses the globe.

The Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth initiative, now in its fourth year, is again catching the imagination of thousands of participants from all walks of life, inspiring them to join with others throughout the Commonwealth.

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 sub-themes of sustainability, safety, prosperity and fairness, in line with the theme of the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.

A personal message from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations, The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland QC, and a specially written Commonwealth Affirmation, will be read out at each ceremony before the raising of the Commonwealth flag at 10am that morning. In a common act of witness members of this great family of nations will reaffirm the commitment of all Commonwealth member states to democracy, development, and respect for diversity.