Farnham Town Council is hosting a ceremony to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday 14 March.

The annual occasion will see the Mayor of Farnham, Cllr Mrs Pat Frost raising the Commonwealth flag outside the Town Council offices in South Street. The ceremony will take place at 10am.

As part of the ceremony, a candle will be lit to remember the contribution of the three million men and women from the commonwealth who volunteered in World War 1 and to commemorate the 1.1 million Commonwealth soldiers who lost their lives. In March 1916 soldiers from Australia and New Zealand began to join in the fighting on the French mainland and took part in what then became the battle of the Somme.

Cllr Mrs Pat Frost says: “This year’s theme celebrates the diversity of the Commonwealth, which is made up of more than two billion people. We are inviting members of the public, schools and local organisations to join us for the flag-raising. The moment will provide us with time to think and to reflect on how, despite everybody being different, each and every one of us has something unique to offer. We are very fortunate in Farnham to have so many people from the Commonwealth studying in Farnham at the University for the Creative Arts and local schools, along with many people who have settled in the area.”

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.

More information about the Commonwealth and resources for marking Commonwealth Day can be found at www.thecommonwealth.org/commonwealthday.