East Ren flies the Commonwealth flag

Commonwealth Day falls on March 10 this year, and East Renfrewshire’s flag will be one of 500 flown throughout the UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man from 10am to midnight, all taking part in Fly a Flag for the Commonwealth.

It is hoped that the event will raise awareness of Commonwealth Day, and that the flags flying across the UK will herald in the 2014 Commonwealth Games, coming to Glasgow in July.

Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire and East Dunbartonshire will also take part.

Charities will benefit too, with four organisations planting flags on the UK’s four highest peaks; Help for Heroes on Ben Nevis, Walking with the Wounded on Mount Snowdon, Cancer Research UK on Scafell Pike and Fields of Life on Slieve Donard.

East Renfrewshire provost Alastair Carmichael will be raising the Commonwealth flag, and has been presented with it by Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire Guy Clark.

Provost Carmichael said: “Fly a Flag is an opportunity for each of us to mark Commonwealth Day, wherever we may be, and to consider at the time the personal and communal contributions we can make towards shaping the future we share.

“All of us can find mutual enrichment through establishing links with others across the full spectrum of 53 Commonwealth countries.”

The provost will be raising the flag at 10am on Monday, March 10, at Eastwood Park HQ after reading out the Commonwealth affirmation.