A special flag will be raised at Fenland Hall next Monday as part of a global celebration of Commonwealth Day.

It will be one of hundreds of ‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’ ceremonies being staged across the UK and around the world.

A specially written Commonwealth Affirmation and a message from the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth will be read out before the raising of the flag at 10am on March 13.

The ceremony will be hosted by Fenland District Council’s Chairman, Councillor Carol Cox. She will be joined by the High Sheriff of Cambridgeshire, Sir David Arculus, and representatives from the district council and town and parish councils.

The flag will be blessed by the Reverend Anthony Chandler.

‘Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth’, now in its fourth year, was inaugurated as a way of demonstrating local communities’ commitment to the organisation and its shared values.

This year’s theme is “a peace-building Commonwealth”, underlining the strength and hope that the organisation’s diversity offers at a time of increasing instability and uncertainty in the world.

Cllr Cox said: “This is the fourth year that we will be part of this worldwide celebration. We are proud to be joining scores of other local authorities again in demonstrating our commitment to the values of tolerance, understanding and mutual respect that the Commonwealth represents.”

As in previous years, the raising of the flag will be followed by a simple ceremony in the Council Chamber to mark the centenary of the First World War.

It will feature the lighting and extinguishing of four candles and a two-minute silence.

Students from Neale-Wade Academy will read out a selection of First World War poems, including ‘In Flanders Fields’. Members of Royal British Legion will also be attending.