Guildford Marks Commonwealth Day at George Abbot School

Published on: 15 Mar, 2016
Updated on: 15 Mar, 2016

The Mayor of Guildford Nikki Nelson-Smith flanked by Michael More Molyneux of Loseley (left) and council leader Paul Spooner together with the group celebrating Commonwealth Day at George Abbot School. (Click on image to enlarge.)

Guildford marked Commonwealth Day (March 14) with a gathering of some of the great and the good at George Abbot School.

At 10am the headteacher and students joined the Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Nikki Nelson-Smith, council leader Paul Spooner, the Lord Lieutenant and the High Sheriff of Surrey to raise the commonwealth flag.

Cllr Paul Spooner, said: “It was very important for us to mark Commonwealth Day and to remind ourselves of this great grouping of nations across the world.”

Deb Cooper, headteacher of George Abbot School, remarked: “We were delighted to be asked to hold this important event at George Abbot School and to promote the Commonwealth values of equality and respect for diversity to the students. Values which are reflected in our own school ethos.”

Army cadets stand under the Commonwealth flag.

A Single Commemorative Act to mark the centenary of the First World War also took place. Four student representatives from South Africa, Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka held four candles which they extinguished, as a symbolic representation of the darkness that fell for the duration of the war.

This was followed by a two-minute silence, representing the first and second years of the conflict.

Two of the candles will remain alight for the next 12 months at George Abbot School. They will act as a reminder to all who see them not only of the sacrifices made during the past 100 years, through conflicts in which this country has been involved, but also as a symbol of hope that we will work towards understanding between peoples.

The event concluded with the reading of In Flanders Fields by John McCrae (1872-1918).