Westminster Abbey roll call – L-R : Callum Bethell, Evie-Shay Donoghue, Mrs Yvonne Kemp, Joshua Gray, Kieran Pegoraro, Mrs Anne McAleer, Lauren Heckford, Ashley Jackson, Ellie Mae Grant and Sam Green
Eight children from from Hillside Community First School in Verwood, accompanied by school secretary, Mrs McAleer and senior teaching assistant, Mrs Kemp represented their school at The Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. The service took place on 10 March and was attended by Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the Royal Family. There were representatives from the Commonwealth Countries, the Royal Commonwealth Society and of the Faith Communities.
The children explored some of London’s sights before proceeding to Westminster Abbey, where they had time to see where The Queen sits and some spoke with the Dean of Westminster, who told them he was the only other person allowed to sit in that seat if The Queen is not there.
The service began with a procession of the flags of the member countries of the Commonwealth, Honoured Guests and Participants. During the service Her Majesty The Queen (Head of the Commonwealth) gave the Commonwealth Day Message and there were several speakers including Lord Coe, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan, who was shot by the Taliban at the age of 15. Malala continues to campaign for the rights of girls to receive an education and spoke eloquently about her beliefs.
