Citizenship Ceremony at Bexhill High

This is the first time the event, which is held for successful adults aged 18 and over who have applied for citizenship in the UK, has been held at a Secondary School in East Sussex.

Usually the ceremony is conducted in the registry office or Town Hall but Deputy Superintendent Registrar Karen Hibbin said taking the event into schools affords many benefits:

"We felt it would be a good idea to take it out to schools and get children involved. This benefits us in a few ways but feel it has numerous benefits to the school involved.

"Bexhill High have been attending our ceremonies at the Town Hall in Hastings for the past year helping to usher citizens and guests to their seats, handing out certificates and packs, serving refreshments etc., but now they are even more involved as in addition the choir and orchestra perform, the cookery classes bake the refreshments and the students take a more active role in hosting the Ceremony."

It's a pre-requisite that all new UK citizens must attend the ceremony within eleven weeks of receiving an invitation letter from the Home Office.

They are awarded UK citizenship after swearing the Oath of Allegiance to HM the Queen.

The civic dignitary presiding over the proceedings was Vice Lord Lieutenant Sara Stoner.

Also attending the event was Deputy Lord Lieutenant Kathy Gore, The Mayor of Bexhill Cllr Bridget George, and East Sussex County Council Registrars Karen Conquest and Lynda Miller.

Twenty eight Applicants received Citizenship at the ceremony which concluded with the school choir and orchestra performing 'Proud'.

The next Citizenship Ceremony on 28th April will also be held at Bexhill High and Sue Wragg, Head of House said:

"This is a great honour for everyone at Bexhill High."