Councillors gather at Riverbank House to raise the Commonwealth Flag

Earlier this month, Torridge District councillors and officers gathered at Riverbank House to raise the Commonwealth Flag with councillor Doug Bushby, chair of Torridge District Council presiding over the event.

The Commonwealth represents over 2.5 billion people or about a third of the world’s population, and almost a quarter of the world in size.

It remains a voluntary association of independent and equal sovereign states constituted by the London Declaration of 1949 as the Commonwealth of Nations but continues to be open for any country to join.

The theme of this year’s celebration, ‘One Resilient Common Future: Transforming our Commonwealth’, encourages members to harness their strengths by building resilience, unlocking potential and leveraging the 'Commonwealth Advantage' to foster a connected, digital Commonwealth.

It is believed this transformation is vital to ensure a resilient common future where no one is left behind.

Councillor Doug Bushby, chair of Torridge District Council said: “The flag-raising ceremony is an opportunity for us all to express commitment to shared beliefs for prosperity, democracy, peace and respect.

“This year's theme aligns with Torridge District Council's goal of improving the community by committing to create good-quality employment opportunities for future generations.”