Pupils from Peasedown St John Primary School were part of a group of local residents and Parish Councillors who gathered to raise a flag outside Beacon Hall on Commonwealth Day, Monday this week, 12th March.

They were part of an international celebration which included young members of the United Kingdom Army Cadet Force, taking the Commonwealth flag to the top of the highest peaks in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. As well as mountaintop ceremonies, over 900 Commonwealth Flags were raised together at 10 a.m. by local authorities (including over 200 parish and town councils) and a small number of others, throughout the United Kingdom, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories.

Before raising the flag, Chair of the Parish Council, Kathy Thomas, read out a letter from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, which touched on details of the Commonwealth Games and the Commonwealth Blue Charter, which is working to protect the health of oceans and marine life.

Students present were from the School Council, named the ‘Pupil Voice’; with one child from each class from years 2 to 5. Ayesha, one of the pupils, made an excellent job of reading the Commonwealth Affirmation.

Cllr Thomas said: “Commonwealth Day has become an annual event as part of the Parish Council’s flag raising ceremonies at the Beacon Hall, and we would like to thank all who attended, particularly the schoolchildren who helped to make it such a special event.”