Events Calendar
Dear Tower Captain
RE: Ringing of Bells & The Commonwealth of Nation’s Flag of Peace March 13 - Commonwealth Day 2023
Commonwealth Day - Monday, March 13, 2023 - marks the tenth anniversary of the signing of the Commonwealth Charter by our late Queen Elizabeth II - a most important documents in the long history of this unique family of nations, of which the United Kingdom is one of the leading lights.
With the sad death of the monarch, the mantle of Head of the Commonwealth now passes to King Charles III, who has graciously pledged his support and determination to continue The Queen’s dedication to the Commonwealth.
The Charter sets out the values and inspirations that unite the Commonwealth’s 56 independent countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Pacific, and the 2.5 billion people who live there. So, to celebrate this important anniversary, coordinated events will take place around the Commonwealth highlighting individual country’s commitment to the development throughout the Commonwealth of free and democratic societies, the importance of involving young people, and peace and prosperity to improve people’s lives.
To commemorate the occasion in the UK, a ‘Commonwealth of Nations ‘Flag of Peace’ will be sent to every city within the United Kingdom, the raising of which at 11am on Monday, March 13, 2023, to symbolise the UK’s commitment to the shared values and principles of the Commonwealth, including co-operation in economic and social development, diversity, respect, friendship and the promotion of peace around the world.
Therefore, on behalf of the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, Baroness Scotland, we have been asked to send all the cities in England a (90” x 54”) Commonwealth Flag of Peace, featuring a white 'Dove of Peace’ in the bottom right-hand corner, encouraging them to take part in this special commemoration in the following way:
THE EVENT
The UK City Councils will organise a brief ceremony during the early morning of 13th March - Commonwealth Day 2023, which will include a brief ceremony at 10.40am, including reading of the Commonwealth Proclamation at City Halls, blessing of the Commonwealth Flag. The event concludes with a lone piper and the elevation of the Commonwealth Flag at 11am.
The Central Council of Church Bell Ringers is supporting the invitation to bellringers across the UK and in and those affiliated bellringing societies of other commonwealth countries including Australia, New Zealand and Canada, to ring at 8pm (local time) on that day, to include a minimum of 10 whole pulls of Queens to mark each year since the Charter was signed.
We have pleasure in attaching the official Guide To Taking Part and the Charter of the Commonwealth, and if you go to pages 2 and 3 you will see the Foreword from Baroness Scotland, Secretary-General of the Commonwealth and the Introduction from me, as Pageantmaster of the Commonwealth of Nation’s Flag of Peace, outlining the content and running order of this unique occasion, and on page 8, the information regarding the ringing of bells at 8pm on March 13, 2023.
All those taking part will receive the following:
(a) They will be sent via email, the Certificate of Grateful Recognition, enabling them to download, print and frame, keeping it as a permanent reminder of their involvement in this historic anniversary event.
The name of the Tower will be listed in the acknowledgements pages of the Guide To Taking Part.
- b)With the above in mind, we do hope that your cathedrals, churches and bellringers will wish to participate in this unique event, so would be grateful if you would kindly send the following information to:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 31ST JANUARY 2023 please.
Name of Country: - Name of City: - Name of Cathedral or Church: - Name of Contact: - Tel: - Email: