Commonwealth Day in Grantham

Members from South Kesteven District Council commemorated Commonwealth Day in Grantham today supporting Cllr Ashley Baxter, Leader of the Council. 

District Councillor Charmaine Morgan, Deputy Mayor of Grantham said: I had the privilege of acting on behalf of our Mayor who is in Sangkt Augustin on a trip with the Twinning Association. 

Commonwealth Day means a lot to Grantham, not only as we recognise the richness of our shared cultural and economic partnership today but also for the loyalty and sacrifices made by Commonwealth nations during WW1 and WW2.

People from across the Commonwealth faught beside us in both wars. In WW1 many trained in Grantham including in the Machine Gun Corps and Royal Flying Corps. We have Commonwealth Graves in Grantham and Londonthorpe cemetery including men from New Zealand and Australia. 

This day is poignant for me too. My indigenous great grandmother was Canadian and my father, Henry Dufour (see picture) flew with Bomber Command as a rear gunner in WW2. He was

a Flight Officer in the Royal Canadian Air Force and became a POW after being shot down over Germany. He was to become one of the men in the Long March for freedom, barely surviving. 

Cllr Rhea Rayside, our Communities Cabinet member, Cllr Phil Dilks veteran and British Legion member and Cllrs Penny Milnes and Ian Selby were also present. Cllr Rayside is from Barbados. 

SKDC hopes to expand this ceremony in future years in recognition of our Commonwealth links.