A celebration has taken place in Farnham to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday 14 March.

Representatives from the community assembled outside the Town Council Offices to hear Councillor John Ward, Leader of the Council read a message from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma.

This was followed by the Mayor of Farnham, Councillor Mrs Pat Frost reading the Commonwealth affirmation. She was then joined by students from Barfield and Waverley Abbey School who helped to unfurl the Commonwealth flag

The assembled guests joined members of the Royal British Legion and proceeded to the War Memorial for a short ceremony to remember soldiers of the Commonwealth who fought in the First World War and other conflicts. The ceremony included the lighting of a commemorative candle and the head boy and head girl from Heath End School read a letter that had been sent from Private H Atton in France to the headmaster of Farnham Grammar School on 7 March 1916.

Speaking after the event, Councillor Mrs Pat Frost said: “The commemoration was both poignant and celebratory. I would like to thank the cadets and students from Waverley Abbey, Heath End and Barfield for joining us as representatives of the Young Commonwealth. It was also lovely to welcome members of the Royal British Legion and soldiers from The Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment.”

The Commonwealth is made up of 53 countries across the world. It is a voluntary association of independent countries that make up nearly 30 per cent of the world’s population. Some of the values promoted by the countries include peace, democracy and respect for human rights.

Commonwealth Day 2016.