28/7/2004 - Kendal's first citizenship ceremony

The first ceremony to be held in Kendal to welcome a new British citizen is taking place on Friday July 30 at 4pm. Deena Poynter, of Crook, Kendal, is taking the oath of allegiance to the Queen in a ceremony performed by Cumbria County Council registration services staff at Kendal Register Office, County Offices, Stricklandgate. 

Councillor Jack Richardson, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member with responsibility for the registration service, said: 

"The ceremony for citizenship allows newly-naturalized citizens to make a public commitment to their new country. Cumbria County Council is glad of the chance to host their attainment of new status as citizens of the United Kingdom and to help them celebrate it. 

"The citizenship ceremony is only one of the recently-introduced ceremonies being offered by the county council and the registration service aims to make them all as personal and unique to the people concerned as possible." 

The ceremony will be conducted by Kendal superintendent registrar Susan Oliver. Councillor Richardson will formally welcome Deena Poynter as a new British citizen and present her with her certificate of British nationality. She will also be presented with a specially designed glass paperweight as a memento of the occasion and a booklet of local information. Register office staff will serve refreshments after the ceremony. 

Citizenship ceremonies were introduced earlier this year by the Government to make more meaningful what had previously been a process largely conducted by post, with the applicant swearing or affirming allegiance to the crown in front of a magistrate or solicitor. 

The ceremonies are conducted at a register office by a superintendent registrar, who makes a welcoming speech to the applicant and his or her guests. A local dignitary also makes a brief address, expanding on the meaning of the ceremony and adding personal touches to the proceedings. The applicant then swears or affirms the traditional oath of allegiance to the Queen. This is followed by a new pledge of loyalty to the United Kingdom and a promise to uphold its democratic values, to observe its laws and to fulfil all duties and obligations as a British citizen. 

Other recently-introduced ceremonies available at Cumbria register offices are for renewal of marriage vows and civil baby naming ceremonies. The ceremony of vows renewal can be used, for example, by couples who have married overseas and want to mark their marriage in front of friends and relatives at home, or couples who want to renew their commitment after years of marriage, perhaps on a significant anniversary. The naming ceremony is an alternative for couples who do not wish to have a religious ceremony to mark the birth of a child.