Oxford,
12
March
2018
|
11:47
Europe/London

Kids dance and sing to the world’s Commonwealth tune

  • East Oxford pupils singing
  • Brass band
  • Faringdon Community College students
  • Shrivenham pupils dance
  • Lord Lieutenant gives speech
  • Lord Lieutenant Tim Stevenson
  • Cllr Zoe Patrick with Lord Lieutenant
  • Shrivenham pupils
  • Watchfield pupils dancing

Schoolchildren from Oxfordshire have made the globally celebrated Commonwealth Day (March 12) come alive with Fijian and African dance and costumes at a special event held at County Hall in Oxford.

More than 1,000 Commonwealth flags have been raised to mark the Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth initiative – now in its fourth year.

Young people from Watchfield Primary School, Faringdon Community College, East Oxford Primary School and Shrivenham Primary School joined thousands of young people from nations such as Belize, Jamaica, Malaysia, New Zealand, Samoa and Sri Lanka in raising the flag and committing themselves to the values of the Commonwealth Charter and the 2018 Commonwealth theme: ‘Towards a Common Future’.

 

 

Pupils from East Oxford School perform a song

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Oxfordshire Brass Youth Ensemble was also present to provide musical accompaniment and to play the national anthem.

Councillor Zoe Patrick, the Chairman of Oxfordshire County Council led the ceremony alongside the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson OBE. She said: “I have enjoyed helping Oxfordshire play its part in this historical event which celebrates the importance of the role the Commonwealth has in contributing to the diversity of our nation.

“Having the schools coming along with all their different contributions to the event provided a colourful and enjoyable experience. This is something of which we are all very proud and many others have been celebrating alongside us in other parts of the world which the Commonwealth covers.”

“The message is that the Commonwealth is very much a modern concept and something for young people to be involved in as much as everybody else. That’s certainly been our emphasis in Oxfordshire.”

What happened on the day

County Council Chairman Councillor Zoe Patrick read the Commonwealth Affirmation followed by the raising of the flag and the National Anthem. Watchfield School then performed Fijian dance in national dress before young people from Faringdon Community College introduced themselves in national dress as part of a performance called ‘Greetings from different countries’. Children from East Oxford Primary School provided some song before The Lord Liutenant of Oxfordshire Tim Stevenson OBE spoke. Children from Shrivenham Primary School then performed African dance and drums