Past Event – Commonwealth Day 2024-Service and Dinner

Commonwealth Day 11 March 2024

The BCA were yet again honoured to organise Birmingham’s celebration of Commonwealth Day commencing with a service at St Philips Cathedral, Colmore Row.

This year also saw the BCA celebrating its 10^th anniversary as an association.

Cathedral Service

Attended by the Lord Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Sir John Crabtree OBE and Lady Crabtree, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Chaman Lal ,The High Sheriff for the West Midlands, Mr Wade Lyn CBE, Diplomats, Faith Leaders, Representatives of the Police Service, Birmingham City Councillors, Prof Johar Ali (Birmingham City University ICCR Chair, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire) Birmingham City Council Choir and Aston University Choir, Nishkam School Choir, Military Preparation College for Training, (MPCT) BCA members and members of the public, the service proved to be a great success.

Commonwealth flags representing Commonwealth members carried by MPCT students lined the path leading to the Cathedral forming a colourful route for VIP guests on their arrival. The flags were then paraded into the Cathedral.

Register Office

The BCA were pleased to work with the Birmingham Register Office early p.m. on 11 March in a special Commonwealth Day event held on this day only: the granting of UK citizenship to Commonwealth citizens. Those receiving their UK citizenship were nationals of some 12 or more overseas Commonwealth nations.

The event was also attended by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and Deputy Lieutenant, Sir Paul Scott-Lee QPM, representing the Lord Lieutenant, as well as The High Sherriff for the West Midlands, Wade Lyn CBE (also a BCA Director/member), Abdul Qadir, Birmingham City Councils International Office and BCA members Imrul Hasan, Marcia Lewinson and Nura Ali, the latter two also speaking about women’s rights.

Dinner

Commonwealth Day concluded with a diner for 150 guests held in the Banqueting suite, Birmingham City Council, Victoria Square.

Commencing with a champagne reception during which guests were entertained by the excellent ‘Windrush Heritage Choir’ and the ‘Smile Community Choir’, guests thereafter made their way to the dinning room where they were further entertained by the Nishkam School Classical Fusion Band to be followed by the Birmingham City Council Choir. A standing ovation followed both performances.

The Chairman of the BCA, Keith Stokes-Smith, then gave a welcome speech.

Later in the evening Students from the University of Birmingham, Alexander Connor, Herbie Abraham and Joshua Pegus spoke on the theme “Celebrating 75 Years of Commonwealth Achievement’. They were followed by the showing of a short film entitled “ The BCA-our 1^st 10 years. The people, outcomes, passion and purpose that fuel us”. (see the link)

 https://vimeo.com/919907629?share=copy .Password: bca2024

Following the main course being served the BCA signed a MOU with the Military Preparation College for Training recognising how both organisations can further support the outcomes of each other.

The evening concluded with Deputy Lieutenant Jenny Loynton, also a BCA member, delivering the head of the Commonwealth, His Majesty the Kings Commonwealth Day message and loyal toast.