The BCA were again very pleased to be able to participate in the Register office organised citizenship ceremony which took place on this years Commonwealth Day , 9thMarch. But this ceremony is no ordinary ceremony. Those receiving their UK citizenship are all citizens of overseas Commonwealth nations and it is only on Commonwealth Day that this happens . Greeting them this year was the Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Deputy Lieutenant, the High Sheriff for the West Midlands and the Chairman of the BCA. The Lord Mayor presented citizens with their formal UK citizenship certificate following which they were presented with a special Commonwealth Certificate from the BCA. Also taking part this year were BCA members Paul Adoba who addressed the citizens on the subject of the environment and the need for all citizens to have better regard for it and the consequences of not doing so , followed by Nura Ali who talked about Women’s rights and equality. Helping us on the day was BCA Director, Dr Wade Lynne CBE, past Hon Consul for Jamaica and BCA events manager, Ray Walker.
the Lord Mayor of Birmingham presenting the formal UK citizenship certificate to a beneficiary.
from left to right -BCA Chair, Keith Stokes-Smith, Ray Walker and a recipient of UK citizenship
from left to right Paul Adoba, Nura Ali, Ray Walker , Wade Lynn , Keith Stokes-Smith (chair)