On Monday 12 March, the Commonwealth flag was raised over the roof of Solihull Council House in celebration of Commonwealth Day.
Braving the rain, the Mayor of Solihull, Councillor Stuart Davis, was joined at the ceremony by the High Sheriff of the West Midlands, Dr John Hudson OBE DL and Mrs Hudson, Dame Caroline Spelman MP and other Honorary Aldermen and Councillors.
Local schoolchildren, Rayan Sharif from Dorridge Primary School and Itunu Onalaja from Solihull School, were chosen to give the order for the flag to be raised after they won a borough-wide artwork competition where participants had to design their own take on the Commonwealth Flag. The pupils were also given a gift card and a certificate for their prize-winning pieces of art.
As part of the ceremony, Dr Hudson read a message from Her Majesty the Queen and the Mayor read out a Commonwealth Affirmation.