Dorset | Posted on March 5th, 2026 | return to news

Commonwealth Day to be marked in Dorset

A ceremony will take place at County Hall on Monday 9 March, and local people are invited to attend the flag raising.

With the theme of ‘Unlocking opportunities together for a prosperous Commonwealth’, Commonwealth Day takes place this year on Monday 9 March.

A flag-raising ceremony is to take place at the memorial area outside County Hall in Dorchester at 10am, and Commonwealth citizens, councillors, staff and members of the public are invited to attend.

The ceremony will open with a prayer delivered by the minister, the Rev Ruth Lownsbrough of Dorset South and West Circuit, followed by a performance of ‘All Over the World’ by St Osmund’s School Choir.

The affirmation will be presented by the chairperson of Dorset Council, Cllr Stella Jones, followed by the reading of The King’s Message by HM Lord-Lieutenant Michael Dooley.

The Commonwealth flag will be raised by the Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadet, ACF Aggy-Su Jamie, and the High Sheriff of Dorset, Callum Bremner, will deliver the message from the Secretary-General.

This year, the ceremony will also include a special address from Sivo Ratulailai, a Dorset Council officer and Commonwealth descendant. She will speak about her 22-year career in the British Army, during which she became the first Fijian female to complete full service, as well as the service of both her husband and her father — one of 212 Fijians recruited in 1961 — who are Commonwealth veterans.

St Osmund’s School Choir will then perform ‘Many Nations’, before the Rev Lownsbrough delivers the closing prayer.

The ceremony will conclude with the playing of the National Anthem, performed by Fred Slade of the Durnovaria Silver Band.

Commonwealth citizens, councillors, staff and members of the public are invited to attend this public event.