Our newest citizens set to celebrate (From Swindon Advertiser)
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Our newest citizens set to celebrate
6:30pm Thursday 14th June 2012 in News By Emma Dunn
Harriet Bosu, Joojo Bonnie, Papa, Keona and Nana Bonnie, Rosetta Bonnie and Doreen Deffour
PEOPLE from across the globe pledged their allegiance to the Queen as they officially became British citizens.
Fifty people received certificates and a gold medallion at a citizenship ceremony held in the rose garden outside the town’s Register Office yesterday.
The ceremony, which had a diamond jubilee theme, was the citizens’ final part of becoming British and saw superintendent registrar Mamie Beasant leading the event.
“I am always delighted when those who attain British nationality join our citizenship ceremonies with such a sense of pride in the whole experience,” she said.
“We are particularly pleased to have been able to stage such a significant ceremony in celebration of the diamond jubilee and I am confident all the participants have had an afternoon to remember.”
Children from Lainesmead and Oakhurst primary schools sang at the ceremony.
A brass band played the national anthem for everyone to sing.
Rosetta Bonnie, of North Swindon, and her children Papa, three,Keona, five, and Nana, nine, were given their British citizenship yesterday.
The family come from Ghana Rosetta’s husband, JooJo is still waiting to receive his citizenship.
Rosetta, 37, who is a staff nurse at Great Western Hospital, said: “I came to study as a nurse and I loved it so much I wanted to stay. Becoming a British citizen means the whole world. It is a great feeling and we feel part of the community we live in.
“I like how multi-cultural Swindon is. It is a great place for the children to be too.”
The Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and Swindon Mayor Coun Mick Bray were also at the event.
Also among the people celebrating the occasion were Rachel Bandao and her seven-year-old twin daughters Bryna Dasha and Bryanne Dechen, who come from the Phillipines.
Rachel, 42, of the town centre, said: “We have been living in England for nearly seven years and we have been in Swindon for most of it. We are very happy to be British citizens. We have waited a long time for it.
“I like the surroundings and the country itself. It is good to be here.”
