This was a splendid occasion held in the Civic Suite on 1st March 2004 – one of the first ceremonies in the United Kingdom. Twenty new citizens were supported by family and friends as they received their Naturalisation Certificates. The Mayor and Deputy Representative Lieutenant – both resplendent in full ceremonial dress, with the Deputy Leader of the Council, led the ceremony. Representatives of all the local community were present – officers from emergency services and other agencies, Council Officers and leaders of many significant organisations in the Borough, those who lead our spiritual communities and the rich diversity of ethnicity and culture in Wandsworth. The Mayoral party, led in by the mace bearer, was a spectacular sight as they took their places on the dais. The Union flags were then ceremoniously marched in and presented by Army and Air Force Cadets who earlier stood a Guard of Honour on the entrance stairway and now took their places beside the flags. Pennants of the Borough decorated the walls and stunning red, white and blue themed floral arrangements completed the setting.
To the strains of Vaughan Williams' music each of them, including a young son who with his mother had been granted citizenship, mounted the platform. The Deputy Leader of the Council then welcomed the newest citizens to British Citizenship and explained to us all some of what citizenship entails. He spoke of the benefits of citizenship but also addressed the responsibilities that come with it. He singled out that participation on the life and organisation of our local community as one prime responsibility. There was time too for congratulation and then the ceremony closed on a note of enthusiasm and excitement with a stirring rendition of the National Anthem. Everyone was invited to join the celebrations and the Mayoral party posed again for photographs. For all of us it was a wonderful introduction to the new service. It was nowhere more evident than on that evening that British citizenship is a common bond that links many people from diverse backgrounds into one nation, all sharing the concept of the common good. The exhilaration of the evening and the goodwill between our twenty newest citizens and all of us present was tangible. Congratulations and welcome |
Our first ceremony
Our twenty new citizens listened to the Mayor's Civic welcome and learned something of the history of the Borough and indeed the Coat of Arms proudly mounted above the stage. Then it was their moment – their moment to become British Citizens. The oath and pledge rang out clear and true, spoken with dignity and enthusiasm by all of them. It seemed a moment of spontaneous enjoyment and satisfaction – a right of passage in joining the British family.