Hackney marks Commonwealth Day and the Centenary of World War One
Hackney stood alongside hundreds of others in Commonwealth countries across the globe to celebrate the vast diversity, strong unity and uplifting values that define the Commonwealth for Commonwealth Day on Monday 12 March.
Hackney Council marked the day by holding a short ceremony and raising the Commonwealth flag at Hackney Town Hall.
The Deputy Speaker of Hackney, Cllr Clare Potter, read out a special commonwealth message, which this year followed the theme ‘Towards a Common Future’ and pledged peace, between all peoples and nations and explored how we can work together to create a better future for all citizens.
Following the flag raising, Cllr Potter invited attendees to the Speaker’s parlour for a candle ceremony: a single commemorative act marking the Centenary of World War One. Four candles are extinguished and one relit every year of the centenary of the First World War to remember those who died during the conflict and in all wars since.
Commonwealth Day is an opportunity for us to spread a message of peace and friendship between nations and citizens everywhere. It is also important for us to remember those from across the Commonwealth who fought and gave their lives in the Great War and conflicts across the globe since.
The Commonwealth is made up of 53 states in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, the Pacific and Europe - mostly territories of the former British Empire - spanning nearly a quarter of the globe and incorporating more than 2.4 billion people.
You can find out more about Commonwealth Day by visiting http://thecommonwealth.org/commonwealthday.