AS part of nationwide celebrations, Hampshire County Council held a flag-raising ceremony in Winchester on Wednesday to mark Commonwealth Day.

The Great Hall was the setting for the event, where Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Nigel Atkinson, read the Commonwealth Affirmation before the Commonwealth flag was raised outside in the courtyard by county council chairman Keith Chapman and Winchester mayor Jane Rutter.

Throughout the ceremony, the county council’s staff choir, the Castle Singers, sang Jerusalem and a variety of other songs to mark the occasion.

Mr Chapman said: “This event in Hampshire has been a positive and uplifting opportunity for us to reaffirm our commitment to the Commonwealth and show appreciation for the values the Commonwealth upholds, as well as the opportunities offered for friendship and cooperation with fellow Commonwealth citizens, young and old, around the world.”

The Right Honourable Patricia Scotland, secretary-general of the Commonwealth, said: “At a time of increasing instability and uncertainty in the world, the Commonwealth family of nations in its rich diversity becomes an ever more needed source of strength and hope for all its members.

“A peace-building Commonwealth is a natural follow-on from our previous theme of an ‘inclusive Commonwealth’, and reaffirms the Commonwealth Charter principle that international peace and security, sustainable economic growth and development and the rule of law are essential to the progress and prosperity of all.”

Local authorities and civic dignitaries, community groups, and charities throughout Britain carried out flagraising events and ceremonies of dedication to mark Commonwealth Day. More than 950 Commonwealth flags were raised throughout the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, UK Overseas Territories, and Commonwealth countries.