Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth – 14 March 2016

 Letter from NALC Chairman, Cllr Ken Browse  encouraging town and parish councils to fly the flag next year on Commonwealth Day 14th March 2016

"9th March this year marked Commonwealth Day 2015. Over 750 Commonwealth flags were raised together at 10am that morning by local authorities (including 191 town councils) and a small number of others, throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories and the Commonwealth, with His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, Commonwealth Secretary-General, raising the final flag outside the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey, London, before attending the annual Commonwealth Observance there that day.

This was the largest, single, raising of the Commonwealth flag in the history of the Commonwealth, which bodes well for the future, especially as this event is to become an annual occasion growing in size and stature over the next few years, involving the countries and communities of all the other 52 Commonwealth countries on Commonwealth Day each year, (which always falls on the second Monday in March).

I have pleasure therefore, in asking all local (parish and town) councils, to download the 2016 Guide To Taking Part from the Fly a Flag website, and would like to encourage your participation in this unique, annual occasion, that will bring the communities and countries of the Commonwealth together in a common celebration of this great family of nations, its diverse cultures and communities.

Please go to page 5 of the guide to enable you to see how you can take part, and where to obtain your 90' x 54' Commonwealth flag for the 14 March 2016. (Once used, the flag can be stored away in readiness for Commonwealth Day 2017 and beyond, so please look upon the purchase of the Commonwealth flag as an investment for the future).

Your flag could either be raised by your mayor, chairman of the council, or you may wish to invite a young person from a local school to raise it on your behalf, especially as the youth of the Commonwealth are the future of the Commonwealth.

It is important that those taking part, should complete the online registration form found at Fly a Flag by no later than the 29 January 2016 to ensure your involvement is registered to enable the public and media alike, to attend your flag raising ceremony on the morning of the 14 March 2016. (Those that have taken part previously do not have to re-register their involvement unless the town or parish clerk has changed).