Commonwealth Day celebrated in Thetford
The Commonwealth Flag is raised by Royal British Legion Thetford branch chairman Roger Smith. Picture: Rebecca Murphy - Credit: Archant
Thetford Town Council has marked Commonwealth Day by raising the flag outside the offices at King’s House.
The day brings together the 53 countries who are united by the Commonwealth and to promote the shared values and principles of peace, democracy and equality.
Thetford mayor Denis Crawford addressed the public this morning and said the event was to “remember the diversity embedded in all Commonwealth countries”.
The anthem of the Commonwealth as the flag was raised by Roger Smith, chairman of the Royal British Legion Thetford branch.
The event then moved into the council chamber where Mr Crawford took part in a commemorative act to remember those who fought during the First World War.
He extinguished candles which symbolically represented the feeling of darkness that came over Europe 100 years ago.
After a brief period of darkness, the candlers were then relighted to represent how light won through the darkness.
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Two minute silence was held and the poem Lights Out by Edward Thomas was read by the mayor’s chaplain the Revd Helen Jary.