The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) Is the Oldest and Largest Civil Society Organisation Devoted to the Commonwealth

The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS) is the oldest and largest civil society organisation devoted to the Commonwealth. Founded in 1868, it conducts a range of events and activities aimed at promoting international understanding. Its educational, youth and cultural programmes include one of the world’s oldest and largest schools’ essay competitions, and an innovative international youth leadership programme. The RCS has some 4,000 members in the UK and a presence in over fourty Commonwealth countries through a network of branches and Commonwealth societies. The RCS is a Registered Charity (No. 226748) in England and Wales. www.thercs.org

Photographs from this event are available from www.picturepartnership.co.uk/events The Commonwealth School Enterprise Challenge 2013

The Commonwealth School Enterprise Challenge is a business competition for young people who want to make a difference in the world. The competition asks school students to start an environmentally friendly enterprise that will solve a problem in their local community. The competition opens for registrations today as part of the celebrations for Commonwealth Week.

The competition takes place in two stages. In the first stage, students are asked to design a business plan and in the second, to launch and run an enterprise, generating income either for their school or for a cause of their choosing.

This year, Teach A Man To Fish is delighted to bring you the Commonwealth School Enterprise Challenge in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society and Ashoka. We look forward to welcoming energetic young entrepreneurs from all fifty-four Commonwealth countries into our network in 2013!

The Commonwealth School Enterprise Challenge offers prizes of up to $5000 for the best business plans and businesses, as well as individual prizes for the most inspirational teachers and the most enterprising students.

If you are interested in the competition, please visit www.schoolenterprisechallenge.org or email [email protected] for more information.

The Abbey is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.

Members of the congregation are kindly requested to refrain from using private cameras, video, or sound recording equipment. Please ensure that mobile phones, pagers, and other electronic devices are switched off. It is my great pleasure, in my first year as Chairman of the Council of Commonwealth Societies, to welcome you to this very special event.

Every year, on the second Monday in March, the Council—the association of key Commonwealth organisations working under the auspices of the Royal Commonwealth Society—organises this flagship occasion, the Commonwealth Day Observance. The Observance marks Commonwealth Day, when people across the world celebrate the great partnership and network of nations, peoples, and ideals which constitute the modern Commonwealth.

The Observance is the UK’s largest annual multi-faith gathering, and today we are honoured by the presence of the Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty The Queen, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh, the High Commissioners of Commonwealth nations, and the faith leaders of each major religion. I am delighted that we are also joined by almost 1,000 young people, representing the bright future of the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Day Observance takes a different theme each year, and in 2013 we are celebrating ‘Opportunity through Enterprise’. Through a mix of music, dance, and personal testimonies, the event will celebrate innovation throughout the Commonwealth and our shared commitment towards the role of young people, and towards creativity and sustainable enterprise as the pathways to development and prosperity for the Commonwealth’s two billion citizens.

I hope you enjoy this great event, which crystallises our hopes for the future and our global responsibilities. The Council of Commonwealth Societies is deeply grateful to the Dean of Westminster and his staff for their support.

The Right Honourable The Lord Howell of Guildford

1 Rivers State Government Come to an unexpected place. A place where untapped potential thrives, with a welcoming culture that’s fresh and dynamic. It is a place where you will be inspired to be a part of something big, with one vision – to make tomorrow’s dream, today’s reality.

Our Mission Strategic Economic Hub Our mission is to • Largest on-shore oil and gas • Rivers State is home to serve our people producing state. numerous oil and gas multinationals such as Bonny with humility Headquarters of Nigeria’s • NLNG, Shell Petroleum and render hydrocarbon industry. transparent and Development Company (SPDC), accountable • Rivers State possesses three MOBIL, AGIP and Chevron; stewardship major universities: University as well as an established Free anchored on of Port Harcourt, University of Trade Zone. Science and Technology, Port integrity and good Rivers State is credited with Harcourt and the University • governance. We long term foreign and local of Education. shall use our God- currency ratings of B+, and a given resources • Rivers State is served by a national long term rating of to improve the number of major refi neries, ‘AA’, as determined by Fitch. quality of life of two signifi cant seaports and Rivers State is also the fi rst our present and airports (one of which services state in Nigeria to receive a future generations international fl ights), and Standard & Poor’s rating: a ‘B’ and empower well-maintained road and rail rating, indicating its ‘stable our people in a infrastructure. outlook based on improved peaceful, just • Rivers State has an extensive transparency’. and harmonious Atlantic coastline – linking it society under God. with the world.

Governor Amaechi has exhibited transparency and accountability in his administration as Governor of Rivers State and has made the offi ce of governor as approachable as never before. He leads a participatory style government, maintaining constant communication with the people. www.riversstate.gov.ng Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon. Chibuike Amaechi Opportunity Through Enterprise: Unlocking potential with innovation and excellence

WHAT IS THE COMMONWEALTH THEME? Every year, the Commonwealth chooses a theme to provide a focus for its activities. The theme is celebrated throughout the year, with special events taking place during Commonwealth Week, including the Commonwealth Day Observance and the Commonwealth Lecture.

WHAT DOES ‘OPPORTUNITY THROUGH ENTERPRISE’ MEAN? This year’s Commonwealth theme, ‘Opportunity through Enterprise’, celebrates the ways in which citizens around the Commonwealth use innovation, hard work, and creative thinking to find opportunities to improve lives around the world.

Through a series of events and programmes, in 2013 the Commonwealth will celebrate the enterprising spirit which unlocks opportunities in small rural communities, large urban centres, businesses, governments and civil society, and encourage us to find ways to nurture enterprise through education, skills development, and political action.

To find out more about the theme and how you can get involved, visit www.commonwealththeme.org.

3 Order of the Observance Before the Observance The Commonwealth Festival Orchestra, conducted by James Ross, Guest Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka, plays:

Movements from King Arthur Z 628 Henry Purcell (1659–1695)

Dance of the Spirits: an African Epiphany Joshua Hagley (b 1995)

Fantasia on ‘Greensleeves’ Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958)

Paraphrase on the National Anthem of Sri Lanka Toby Hession (b 1997)

Suite in D HWV 349 George Frideric Handel (1685–1759) from Water Music

Peter Holder, Organ Scholar, plays:

Prelude in E flatBWV 552 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)

English Folk Song Suite Ralph Vaughan Williams arr. James McVinnie (b 1983) i. March: Seventeen Come Sunday ii. Intermezzo: My Bonny Boy iii. March: Folk Songs from Somerset

4 The Procession of Flags As the procession of Commonwealth flags moves through the Abbey, it is accompanied by drummers from The Commonwealth Resounds! playing ‘Morosa Mosepele’. The flags of the member countries of the Commonwealth are carried in the order determined by the date of membership (when read from right to left):

Canada United Kingdom New Zealand Australia India South Africa Sri Lanka Pakistan Malaysia Ghana Cyprus Nigeria Tanzania Sierra Leone Trinidad and Tobago Jamaica Kenya Uganda Malta Malawi The Gambia Zambia Guyana Singapore Lesotho Botswana Mauritius Barbados Nauru Swaziland Samoa Tonga The Bahamas Bangladesh Papua New Guinea Grenada Solomon Islands Seychelles Dominica Tuvalu Kiribati Saint Lucia Vanuatu Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Antigua and Barbuda Belize Saint Christopher and Nevis Maldives Namibia Brunei Darussalam Mozambique Cameroon Rwanda 5 All stand. The Procession of Honoured Guests and Participants An Honorary Steward  The Chairman of the Royal Commonwealth Society Mr Peter Kellner  The Chairman of the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship Mr Lyn Hopkins  The Chairman of the Royal Over-Seas League Sir Anthony Figgis KCVO CMG  The Deputy Chairman of the English-Speaking Union Mr Jonathan Dye

The Representatives of the Faith Communities A Verger  The Representative of the Chief Rabbi The Representative of the and the Orthodox Jewish Community Jain Community Rabbi Alan Plancey Mrs Alpha Kotari   The Representative of The Representative of the the Sikh Community Zoroastrian Community The Lord Singh of Wimbeldon CBE Mr Malcolm M. Deboo  The Representative of the Sunni Muslim Community Imam Mohammed Shahid Raza OBE  The Representative of the The Representative of the Jewish Reformed Synagogues Hindu Community Rabbi Laura Janner Klausner Mr Anil Bhanot OBE   The Representative of The Representative of the Liberal Judaism Shia Muslim Community Rabbi Danny Rich Imam Syed Raza Shabbar   The Representative of the Bahá’í The Representative of the Community Buddhist Community Ms Vivien Craig The Venerable Bogoda Seelawimala

6 The Representatives of the Christian Churches

A Verger 

Westminster Cathedral Methodist Central Hall Canon Christopher Tuckwell The Reverend Martin Turner   Church of Scotland Free Churches in England The Reverend Angus MacLeod The Reverend Michael Heaney

 Orthodox His Eminence Archbishop Gregorios

7 The Observance

All stand.

Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh are received. The fanfare ‘Euphoria’ is sounded.

Presentations are made.

All sing The National Anthem

God save our gracious Queen, long live our noble Queen, God save The Queen. Send her victorious, happy and glorious, long to reign over us: God save The Queen.

The procession forms and moves through the Nave and the South Quire Aisle into the Lantern, Sacrarium, and Quire.

8 All remain standing to sing

The Hymn

O praise ye the Lord! O praise ye the Lord! praise him in the height; all things that give sound; rejoice in his word, each jubilant chord, ye angels of light; re-echo around; ye heavens adore him loud organs, his glory by whom ye were made, forth tell in deep tone, and worship before him, and, sweet harp, the story in brightness arrayed. of what he has done.

O praise ye the Lord! O praise ye the Lord! praise him upon earth, thanksgiving and song in tuneful accord, to him be outpoured ye sons of new birth; all ages along: praise him who has brought you for love in creation, his grace from above, for heaven restored, praise him who has taught you for grace of salvation, to sing of his love. O praise ye the Lord! Amen, amen.

Laudate Dominum 427 NEH Henry Williams Baker (1821–77) Charles Hubert Hastings Parry (1848–1918) after Psalm 150 from Hear my words, ye people

9 The Order of the Procession

The Beadle  The Choir of Westminster Abbey  The Minor Canon  The Canons’ Verger  The Canons of Westminster  The Dean’s Verger  The Dean of Westminster  The Queen’s Almsmen  The High Steward The High Bailiff  An Honorary Steward  The Commonwealth Flag (with Brownie escort)  The Commonwealth Secretary-General His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma, and Mrs Sharma  The Representative of The Chairperson-in-Office of the Commonwealth Senator the Honourable Jan McLucas Australia  The Chief Honorary Steward  The Chairman of the Council of Commonwealth Societies The Right Honourable The Lord Howell of Guildford  The Commonwealth Mace  HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH HEAD OF THE COMMONWEALTH

Suite in Attendance

10 All remain standing.

The Very Reverend Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster, gives The Bidding

On behalf of the Dean and Chapter, I welcome you warmly to Westminster Abbey, this House of God and House of Kings in which almighty God is honoured in daily worship, and the place of coronations since 1066.

In this sixtieth anniversary year, we recall in particular Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation in this Abbey Church on 2nd June 1953. We give thanks for more than sixty years of Her Majesty’s faithful service to this Nation, the Realms, and the whole Commonwealth under God.

Together, united by ties of history and friendship, we represent the Commonwealth’s rich diversity of cultures and faiths throughout the world. We shall think in this Observance about how the Commonwealth creates ‘Opportunity through Enterprise’, and pray, each in our own way, that all people may have the opportunity to flourish and, in the words of Jesus Christ, ‘have life abundantly’.

As we come into the presence of almighty God, let us pray for a moment in silence.

Silence is kept.

Now let us pray for the spread of God’s kingdom in the words Jesus taught his disciples:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.

All sit.

11 T h e C o m m o n w e a l t h D a y M e s s a g e 2 0 1 3 from Her Majesty The Queen, Head of the Commonwealth

This year’s Commonwealth theme, ‘Opportunity through Enterprise’, is a celebration of our achievements, particularly those that may have seemed challenging, daunting or even impossible, which have helped to build strength, resilience and pride in our young people, in our communities, and in our nations.

Great achievements in human history have a number of common characteristics. From climbing the highest mountain to winning a sporting competition, making a scientific breakthrough, building a successful business or discovering unique artistic talent—these outcomes all begin as a simple goal or idea in one person’s mind.

We are all born with the desire to learn, to explore, to try new things, and each of us can think of occasions when we have been inspired to do something more efficiently, or to assist others in achieving their full potential. Yet it still takes courage to launch into the unknown. Ambition and curiosity open new avenues of opportunity.

That is what lies at the heart of our Commonwealth approach: individuals and communities finding ways to strive together to create a better future that is beneficial for all.

Our shared values of peace, democracy, development, justice and human rights—which are found in our new ‘Commonwealth Charter’—mean that we place special emphasis on including everyone in this goal, especially those who are vulnerable.

I am reminded of the adage, ‘nothing ventured, nothing gained’. As we reflect on how the Commonwealth theme applies to us individually, let us think about what can be gained with a bold heart, dedication, and teamwork. And let us bear in mind the great opportunity that is offered by the Commonwealth—of joining with others, stronger together, for the common good.

Elizabeth R.

1212 A Dance Performance by Living the Dream Company

All remain seated for

A Reflection by Ricken Patel, co-founder and Executive Director of Avaaz

All remain seated. John Agard reads

From Over The Mountain Came News From over the mountain came news and the air I breathed filled me with such joy that the grass was greener I thought I could get used to this paradise.

from over the mountain came news Now all that was left for me to do was wait that the air was cleaner for opportunity to show her face.

from over the mountain came news I looked at my watch. I paced the floor. that opportunity knocked on all doors I thought opportunity’s taking her time.

and the language of those who lived there Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. possessed no word for poor. ‘Come in, opportunity,’ I said. ‘Do come in.’

So I gathered what few belongings I had But the old one who stood there before me and shook the old dust from my feet said, ‘there must some misunderstanding.

for I couldn’t wait to reach that place ‘Opportunity is my daughter. where they said opportunity walked every street. I’m her mother – Enterprise.

When I got there I found legend had not lied Impress me with the talents of your doing. for the grass was greener on the other side Wow me with the dreaming of your mind.’

John Agard (b 1949)

12 13 All remain seated. The Choir of Westminster Abbey sings A Motet

O sing unto the Lord a new song: for he hath done marvellous things. With his own right hand, and with his holy arm: hath he gotten himself the victory. The Lord declared his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the heathen. He hath remembered his mercy and truth toward the house of Israel: and all the ends of the world have seen the salvation of our God. Show yourselves joyful unto the Lord, all ye lands: sing, rejoice, and give thanks. Praise the Lord upon the harp: sing to the harp with a psalm of thanksgiving. With trumpets also, and shawms: O show yourselves joyful before the Lord the King. Let the sea make a noise, and all that therein is: the round world, and they that dwell therein. Let the floods clap their hands, and let the hills be joyful together before the Lord: for he is come to judge the earth. With righteousness shall he judge the world: and the peoples with equity.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.

Philip Moore (b 1943) Psalm 98

A Reflection by The Right Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria

A Performance by The Noisettes

14 All stand to sing

The Hymn

Let all the world in every corner sing, Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King! My God and King! The heavens are not too high, The Church with psalms must shout, his praise may thither fly; no door can keep them out; the earth is not too low, but above all, the heart his praises there may grow. must bear the longest part. Let all the world in every corner sing, Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King! My God and King!

Luckington 394 NEH Basil Harwood (1859–1949) George Herbert (1593–1633)

All sit. Senator the Honourable Jan McLucas reads

St Matthew 25: 14–28

Jesus said, ‘It is as if a man, going on a journey, summoned his slaves and entrusted his prop- erty to them; to one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. The one who had received the five talents went off at once and traded with them, and made five more talents. In the same way, the one who had the two talents made two more talents. But the one who had received the one talent went off and dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. After a long time the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them. Then the one who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five more talents, saying, “Master, you handed over to me five talents; see, I have made five more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” And the one with the two talents also came forward, saying, “Master, you handed over to me two talents; see, I have made two more talents.” His master said to him, “Well done, good and trustworthy slave; you have been trustworthy in a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.” Then the one who had received the one talent also came forward, saying, “Master, I knew that you were a harsh man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you did not scatter seed; so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.” But his master replied, “You wicked and lazy slave! You knew, did you, that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and on my return I would have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him, and give it to the one with the ten talents.”’ 15 A Performance by Beverley Knight MBE

The Address by Sir Richard Branson, Founder and Chairman of the Virgin Group

The Choir of Westminster Abbey sings The Anthem

Vast Ocean of light, whose rays surround The Universe, who know’st nor ebb, nor shore, Who lend’st the Sun his sparkling drop, to store With overflowing beams Heav’n, air, ground, Whose depths beneath the Centre none can sound, Whose heights ’bove Heav’n, and thoughts so lofty soar, Whose breadth no feet, no lines, no chaines, no eyes survey, Whose length no thoughts can reach, no worlds can bound, What cloud can mask thy face? where can thy ray Find an Eclipse? what night can hide Eternal Day?

Jonathan Dove (b 1959) Phineas Fletcher (1582–1650)

All remain seated or kneel for

The Prayers

The Reverend Angus MacLeod, representative of the Church of Scotland, says:

Let us pray.

O God, you guide the judgement of those who are meek and humble of heart, and send your light to enlighten those who trust in you. Grant us, amidst our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask that which you would have us do; that your holy wisdom would save us from all false choices, and that your light might guide our paths; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Mrs Alpha Kotari, representative of the Jain community, says:

May the entire Universe be blessed, May all beings engage in each other’s well-being, May all weakness, sickness and faults diminish, May everyone be healthy, peaceful and blissful.

Progress, whether for individuals, groups or the whole of Humanity, can only be made when ideas and decisive choices are guided by Ahimsa.

Through the fruits of our labour, may we continue to observe self–discipline, truthfulness and compassion in an enterprising society that strives for social co-existence and collaboration with out planet 16 Rabbi Alan Plancey, representative of the Orthodox Jewish community, says:

May He who blessed our fathers bless this and all other holy congregations: them, their wives, their sons and daughters, and all that is theirs. May He bless those who unite to build places of worship for prayer and those who come to pray: those who provide lamps for light, food for visitors and charity for the poor, and all who faithfully occupy themselves with the needs of others. May the Holy One, blessed be He, give them reward, may He remove from them all sickness, grant them complete healing, and forgive all their sins. May He send blessing and success to all the work of their hands together with all their brethren and let us say, Amen.

The Lord Singh of Wimbledon CBE, representative of the Sikh community, says:

Guru Nanak’s father once gave him a sum of money to take to town and invest in business. On his way the Guru saw some poor and hungry people huddled together shivering in the winter cold. The Guru spent all his money buying food and blankets for the cold and hungry group. On returning home, he responded to his irate father’s criticism of wasting money by saying that looking to the wellbeing of his fellow humans was the best investment he could make.

Sikh teachings remind us of the importance of earning by honest effort and using wealth for the greater good. In a memorable verse the Guru wrote:

What is the use of food in abundance Of splendid clothes and soft beds If they turn us from the divine path They are all as dust.

Malcolm M. Deboo, representative of the Zoroastrian community, says:

By the Grace of the Creator Ahura Mazda;

May the immortal souls of all who kept their word and generated wealth not only for themselves but created opportunity for others by donating their excess wealth during their lifetime, to build schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, and infrastructure projects be remembered here.

May the chosen leaders of Ahura Mazda lift up the best and the most gifted, so as to make them perform the greatest service to the country.

May they relieve those who are weakest and most helpless and have fallen in distress.

May generosity prevail over miserliness in the Commonwealth.

May we be inspired by those who made the world prosperous.

17 Imam Mohammed Shahid Raza OBE, representative of the Sunni Muslim community, says:

In the name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Most Kind. The value of work, of seeking a livelihood, the attitude to wealth and enterprise and its relation to the real purpose of life, are well caught in the fine balance of the saying: “Work for the world as if you will live forever, and work for the eternal life as if you will die tomorrow.” O God! help us to attain both the level of work and enjoyment and the level of moral consciousness and sacrifice, so that we may all achieve complete fulfilment. O God! help us in strengthening social harmony and brotherhood and in having inner satisfaction through helping fellow human beings. O God! help us to realise the vision of an enterprising, sharing and caring society. Amen.

The Reverend Michael Heaney, representative of the Free Churches, says:

Heavenly Father, you delight in your whole creation, and call all people to share in your light. May your will be done in us and through us; that in all things we may share in your enterprise of healing, peace and joy for the world. Prosper our handiwork, we pray, that working for your glory and the good of our neighbour, your Kingdom might come on earth as it is in Heaven; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

All stand for

The Act of Affirmation to the Commonwealth

The Secretary-General says:

We affirm that every person possesses unique worth and dignity.

We affirm out respect for nature, and that we will be stewards of the earth by caring for every part of it, and for it as a whole.

We affirm our belief in justice for everyone, and peace between peoples and nations.

Joining together as members of one worldwide Commonwealth family, and affirming our shared goals of development and democracy, we commit to working alongside one another in a spirit of respect and understanding, exploring new ideas, seeking fresh challenges, and finding innovative solutions that will help bring ‘Opportunity through Enterprise’ to us, and to all our sisters and brothers, wherever we may live, learn, or work.

We affirm our belief in the Commonwealth as a force for good in the world, and pledge ourselves to its service, now and in the future.

18 All sing The Hymn

Praise to God’s creative Wisdom, Word that speaks in human hearts, Sowing seeds of faith and service, Gifts of grace which life impart; May we be so shaped and graven For God’s enterprise divine, Made anew in love for glory, Wisdom’s sacrament and sign.

Through this world of dazzling beauty, Held in being by your Word, Draw us to your Holy Presence, Known in prayer, in prayer adored; In the silence and the stillness Find in you the source of grace, Know your glory and your goodness, Deepest truth of time and space.

May all peoples, every nation, Live in peace and harmony; Know the light that drives out darkness; Know the truth that sets us free From injustice and oppression, From all selfishness and greed; That with mercy and compassion Each may serve the other’s need.

Blaenwern 408(1) NEH Geoffrey Rowell (b 1943) William Rowlands (1860–1937)

19 All remain standing. The Dean pronounces

The Blessing

Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection we commit you. The Lord bless and keep you. The Lord make his face to shine upon you. The Lord lift up the light of his countenance upon you, and give you peace; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Music after the service:

Final from Symphonie I Louis Vierne (1870–1937)

The Commownealth Resounds! plays

Music for the Royal Fireworks HWV 351 George Frideric Handel (1685–1759)

Members of the congregation are asked to remain in their places until invited to move by the Stewards. Those in the Nave will be asked to leave by the Great West Door. Those seated in the Lantern and Transepts leave by the North Door.

A retiring collection is taken for Youth Business International (For more information, see page 25)

20 Speakers in order of appearance Ricken Patel Ricken Patel is the founding President and Executive Director of Avaaz. Avaaz is a global campaigning movement which has grown rapidly since 2007 into the largest online activist community in the world at 20 million members in all 194 countries. “Avaaz” means “voice” in many languages, and the organisation has a simple democratic mission: to close the gap between the world we have and the world most people everywhere want.

Ricken was in Foreign Policy magazine’s 100 Top Global Thinkers in 2012. He was named a ‘Young Global Leader’ by the Davos World Economic Forum and was listed ‘Ultimate Gamechanger in Politics’ by Huffington Post. John Agard Flamboyant poet John Agard is one of today’s great celebrants of the English language. He draws equally on classical tradition and the language of the street, with the rhythms of Caribbean speech never far away. From the provocative and extremely funny ‘Listen Mr Oxford Don’ to the classical sonnet ‘Toussaint L’Ouverture Acknowledges Wordsworth’s Sonnet “To Toussaint L’Ouverture’’’, which is the great rebel leader’s appreciation of and reply to William Wordsworth’s sonnet. John’s poetry combines acute social observation, puckish wit, and a riotous imagination used to thrilling effect.

John Agard was born in Guyana and emigrated to Britain in 1977. He lives in Lewes with his wife, the poet Grace Nichols, and his daughter. The Right Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi The Right Honourable Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is Governor of Rivers State, Nigeria. He has had a long and distinguished political career, serving as Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, State Secretary of the Caretaker Committee of the Democratic Party of Nigeria, and Secretary of the National Republican Convention.

He has also served as a Director of two state-owned companies, and as a member of several national and international bodies, including the Louisiana House of Representatives in the USA, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, and the National Stakeholders Working Group of the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative. He holds the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger and is a Knight of Saint John – as well as being a devoted Christian. 21 Senator the Honourable Jan McLucas Senator McLucas has been a Senator representing Queensland for the Australian Labor Party since 1998. She has been Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers since September 2010, and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister since March 2012.

She has also served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing and Shadow Minister for Ageing and Disabilities. She has sat on numerous Parliamentary Committees, including the Senate Community Affairs References Committee and the Senate Committee for the Environment, Communications, Information Technology and the Arts. Before entering Parliament, Senator McLucas was a teacher, and a councillor for Cairns City Sir Richard Branson Sir Richard Branson is Founder and Chairman of the Virgin Group. Through more than 100 companies, Virgin employs approximately 60,000 people in over 30 countries.

Branson has challenged himself with many record-breaking adventures, including the fastest ever Atlantic Ocean crossing, a series of hot air balloon journeys, and becoming the oldest person to kitesurf across the Channel. He has described Virgin Galactic, the world’s first commercial spaceline, as being “the greatest adventure of all”.

Since starting youth culture magazine Student aged 16, Branson has found entrepreneurial ways to provoke positive change in the world. In 2004 he established Virgin Unite, the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group, which tackles tough social and environmental problems and strives to make business a force for good. His Excellency Kamalesh Sharma Kamalesh Sharma has been Commonwealth Secretary-General since 2008. A career diplomat, Mr Sharma had previously served as India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and was the Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary-General to Timor-Leste. As India’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva and New York, he was spokesperson for developing countries in the Uruguay Trade Round and was closely involved in the development of the Monterrey Consensus and Millennium Development Goals. He is currently Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast.

22 Performers in order of appearance The Commonwealth Resounds! The Commonwealth Resounds is delighted to be able to create the Commonwealth Festival Orchestra especially for Observance Day 2013. The Commonwealth Festival Orchestra helps create life-changing opportunities for developing orchestral musicians, conductors, composers, and young music leaders.

Today, the Commonwealth Festival Orchestra has partnered with London’s Music Colleges and Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester, celebrating the 60th anniversary of Her Majesty The Queen’s Coronation with music by Handel, Purcell, and Vaughan Williams, and with new orchestral items composed by Toby Hession and Joshua Hagley, young composers inspired by the sounds of Africa and Asia. It comprises musicians from seven different Commonwealth countries and is conducted by James Ross, Guest Conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of Sri Lanka. Moropa Mosepele A spectacular drum performance to accompany the Procession of Commonwealth Flags, composed and performed by former BBC Young Musician of the Year percussion finalists James Larter and Hristo Duchev, together with members of an African drumming group from the Harris Boys’ Academy in East Dulwich. The title ‘Moropa Mosepele’ is created from the Kiswahili words ‘drum’ and ‘procession’.

Special thanks to The Commonwealth Resounds!, which funded a training workshop for the young drummers, and to Lord Harris and Sir Daniel Moynihan for their support. ‘Euphoria’ Fanfare

The arrival of Her Majesty The Queen will be heralded by the brilliant sounds of this fanfare resounding throughout Westminster Abbey.

The fanfare has been composed by Alan Mofti, a 16-year-old composer, who is a member of the Purcell School’s Sri Lanka Commonwealth Team. The performers are brass players from the Royal College of Music’s ‘Sparks’ outreach programme, working together with Tomorrow’s Warriors and young brass players with cultural links to Ghana, Australia and Brunei.

23 Living the Dream Dance Company In 2006, at the age of 16, Zoe Jackson set up the Living the Dream Performing Arts Company, which inspires and empowers young people from all walks of life to grow in talent and confidence, and to believe in themselves and their dreams.

Living the Dream has a school of performing arts, a professional dance company, and a charity, The Dream Foundation, and works with young people through classes, workshops, after-school clubs, showcases, flashmobs, and other events. The music from Living the Dream’s dance performance is taken from several Commonwealth countries. The Choir of Westminster Abbey The Choir of Westminster Abbey is renowned worldwide as one of the finest choirs of its type. Comprising some thirty boys (all of whom attend the Abbey’s dedicated residential Choir School) and twelve professional adult singers (known as Lay Vicars), the Choir plays a central role both in the daily choral services in the Abbey and in the many royal, state, and national occasions which take place there. In addition to fulfilling its responsibilities in Westminster, the Choir undertakes an extensive programme of recordings, broadcasts, concerts, and tours, travelling in recent years to Australia, the United States, the Far East, Russia, Spain, and Italy. The Choir is directed by James O’Donnell, Organist and Master of the Choristers, and the organ is played by Robert Quinney, Sub-Organist. The Noisettes With a career that has stretched over seven years, a string of hits already under their belt and a fashion following that could rival Grace Jones, this duo needs no introduction. We all remember their well-known smash hit ‘Don’t Upset The Rhythm’, which stormed into the UK Charts at No. 2, and ‘Never Forget You’, which has sealed itself as a firm family favourite sing-along. They have shared arena stages with Muse and criss-crossed the United States with TV On The Radio and Bloc Party.

Two years on, the Noisettes are ready to embark on a new musical journey. They are set to release their next single ‘Rag Top Car’ in April 2013, with more releases to follow later in the year.

The Noisettes’ performance at today’s Observance is with thanks to The Lake of Stars festival, a music and arts festival set up to encourage international tourism to, and generate revenue and expo- sure for Malawi. 24 Beverley Knight MBE

Queen of British soul Beverley Knight has been one of the UK’s most consistent artists in the past 15 years, scoring several Top-10 albums, including the platinum-selling ‘Voice: The Best Of Beverley Knight’. She has sold over a million albums in the UK along the way, including four gold records. She has been awarded an MBE for her services to British music and for her charity work, won three MOBOs, been nominated for Best Female at the Brit Awards three times, and been nominated twice for the prestigious Mercury Music Prize. Beverley is currently working on her eighth studio album.

Retiring Collection

Youth Business International (YBI) is a global network of independent, non-profit initiatives helping young people to start and grow their own businesses and create employment. YBI is currently active in 36 countries, including 16 in the Commonwealth. YBI was founded in 2000 with His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales as its President. YBI members assist under-served young entrepreneurs with a combination of training and access to capital, mentoring and other business development services, in partnership with governments, businesses and civil society organisations.

Through YBI, members exchange resources and ideas to increase the scale of support for young people seeking to start their own businesses. A network team based in London co-ordinates and leads this activity.

YBI has helped over 100,000 young people to create their own businesses. An estimated 70% of these businesses are still trading after three years, with many going on to create significant levels of employment and provide further benefits for their communities.

25 The Commonwealth Charter “We the people of the Commonwealth…”

Today, as people around the Commonwealth mark its annual Commonwealth Day, we have an extra-special reason to celebrate. For the first time in the Commonwealth’s 64-year history, all of the Heads of Government belonging to the organisation have agreed to adopt a Commonwealth Charter. This means that the Commonwealth now has a single document setting out the basic values that the people of the Commonwealth believe in, and which they expect their governments to support and protect.

By outlining sixteen core values in the Charter, Commonwealth leaders are committing themselves to upholding democracy and human rights, promoting tolerance and respect, protecting the environment, providing access to health, education and food, and recognising the positive role of young people in promoting these and other values. We hope that all people in the Commonwealth can continue to enjoy the values to which their leaders have agreed.

Later today, the Commonwealth Secretary-General will present a special copy of the Charter to Her Majesty The Queen, who is Head of the Commonwealth, and all the schools in the Abbey today will receive a copy in a special goody-bag.

To find out more about the Commonwealth Charter, visit the Commonwealth Secretariat website (www.commonwealth.int) or this year’s Commonwealth Theme website (www.commonwealththeme.org).

26 With thanks to Rivers State Government is the governing authority of Rivers State, one of the 36 states of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The State Government is committed to improving the living and working conditions of its people as well as the quality of the workforce, which it hopes to achieve through rapid infrastructural development. Critical areas of focus include: education, health, agriculture and the expansion of transport infrastructure such as roads and bridges.

The Cadillac Cup Polo Match is a charity polo match that debuted in 2010. This action-packed afternoon combines sports, entertainment, business networking and charitable giving, and promises to be one of the year’s most highly anticipated annual events. The 2013 event will take place on 6 October 2013, and will donate one hundred per cent of all the proceeds to the premier charity partners. www.cadillaccuppolo.com

Founded 125 years ago in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Queen Victoria, the Trust is an independent charity that works with accredited educational experts to invest in primary and secondary education. Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge, and its purpose is to further the University’s objective of advancing knowledge, education, learning and research.

Nexus is a company working in partnership with the Royal Commonwealth Society to deliver a communications package in support of the Commonwealth Day Observance. Nexus publishes the Commonwealth Yearbook and manages www.commonwealth- of-nations.org for the Commonwealth Secretariat.

Other supporters:

Mr James Copeland, Ms Alison Cox, Ms Sharon Davies, Mr Neil Denney, Mr Will Gore, The Reverend Dr James Hawkey, Mr Padraig Herlihy, Ms Georgia Hewson, Mr Will Jameson, Ms Josie Verghese, Ms Claire Whitaker 27 Behind the scenes The Commonwealth Mace The Mace, carried by Ms Tamara Babao-Sadgrove, goes before Her Majesty The Queen. It was a gift of the Royal Anniversary Trust to The Queen in her role as Head of the Commonwealth, on the fortieth anniversary of her accession to the throne. The Mace is used on special Commonwealth occasions, including the Commonwealth Day celebrations in London, and at biennial Heads of Government Meetings.

Flowers The striking flowers you see around the Abbey have been prepared by the National Association Of Flower Arrangement Societies under the direction of Jane Rowton-Lee.

Flag-bearers The 54 flag-bearers have been recruited with the support ofthe High Commissions in London, who each nominate a flag-bearer from their own country usually resident in the United Kingdom. The Commonwealth flag is accompanied by an escort of Brownies from the United Kingdom.

The Council of Commonwealth Societies (CCS) The CCS is a group of organisations, which promotes the value of Commonwealth Day and seeks to raise the profile of the modern Commonwealth. The CCS gratefully acknowledges the financial support of its member organisations. The CCS members in 2013 are:

»» Association of Commonwealth Universities »» Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council »» Commonwealth Broadcasting Association »» Corona Worldwide »» Commonwealth Business Council »» English-Speaking Union »» Commonwealth Countries League »» Foreign & Commonwealth Office »» Commonwealth Education Trust »» Goodenough College »» Commonwealth Foundation »» Nexus Strategic Partnerships »» Commonwealth Local Government Forum »» Pacific Islands Society »» Commonwealth Parliamentary Association »» Pakistan Society (UK) »» Royal Commonwealth Society »» Commonwealth Parliamentary Association »» Royal Over-Seas League (International Secretariat) »» Soundseekers (Commonwealth Society for »» Commonwealth Telecommunications the Deaf) Organisation »» Papua New Guinea Church Partnership »» Commonwealth Secretariat »» Victoria League

28 The Commonwealth School Enterprise Challenge 2013

If you are interested in the competition, please visit www.schoolenterprisechallenge.org or email [email protected] for more information.

The Abbey is served by a hearing loop. Users should turn their hearing aid to the setting marked T.