Blog: Durham Commonwealth Event

Added Tuesday 1st May 2018 by (Return to Blog)

先週の水曜日、帝京大生たちはダラム市内で行われた英連邦の祝賀行事に参加しました。34校1,400人を超える子供たちがマーケットスクエアに集まる中、ダラム市のマスコットであるライオンに扮したHikaruが観衆を楽しませてくれたり、6名の学生は国旗を持ってダラム大聖堂までの行進を先導したりと大活躍。大変、貴重な体験をした一日でした。

Last Wednesday, Teikyo University students and staff attended a celebration of the British Commonwealth in Durham city.

Over 1,400 children from 34 schools across County Durham took part in this one-time-only event, which began with the school groups all assembling at Market Square to prepare for the procession to the cathedral. While we were waiting, Hikaru - dressed as the Durham city lion (the city’s official mascot) - entertained the children and gave out sweets with the help of Teruki.

At exactly 12:30 the parade began. Leading the procession were Hidenari, Ryuta, Hibiki, Tatsumi, Mutsuaki and Ryubi, along with forty-seven other students, each carrying the flag of one of the Commonwealth’s 53 countries.

Once at the cathedral the service began. We listened to a speech from County Durham’s Lord-Lieutenant, and sang songs celebrating the diversity of the people and nations of the Commonwealth.

Though Japan is not itself a Commonwealth country, it was wonderful to be invited to take part in such a unique event and, for many of our students, play such an important role in the proceedings.