Berkshire’s first face-to-face Citizenship Ceremony has taken place with registrars welcoming seventeen new citizens to Wokingham Borough earlier this month.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, all Citizenship Ceremonies conducted within the borough have taken place virtually or at small gatherings without guests or dignitaries.
All applicants aged 18 years and over who are accepted by the Home Office for citizenship by naturalisation or registration must take an oath of allegiance and pledge of loyalty whilst the national anthem is played, before they can become a British Citizen.
During the ceremony, which took place on Wednesday 15 September 2021, new citizens were presented with certificates from the deputy lieutenant of Berkshire, Dr Christina Hill Williams, and a gift of a passport cover from Wokingham Borough Mayor, Cllr Keith Baker. Afterwards, tea, coffee and biscuits were served.
Cllr Keith Baker said: “This is the first time a face-to-face Citizenship Ceremony has been conducted within Berkshire since the start of the pandemic, and I am delighted to celebrate this special day with our new citizen residents.
“We are proud of the borough’s wide diversity and have welcomed citizens from all walks of life. Our new citizens will bring transferrable skills and talents which will enrich and enhance our community. Wokingham Borough regularly ranks in the top places to live in the country, and we are delighted that our new citizens have chosen Wokingham Borough as their home. On behalf of the council, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all our new citizens and a huge thanks for choosing Wokingham Borough as a place to live, learn, work and grow.”
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