11/06/04 - Cumbria's first new citizens

Two new British citizens are taking the oath of loyalty on Friday, June 18, in the first citizenship ceremony held by Cumbria County Council's registration service.   

They are Mana Pookduang-Smith, who was born in Thailand and lives in Whitehaven, and Dragoljub Zivkovic, from Yugoslavia, who lives in Alston. Their ceremony is to take place at Whitehaven Register Office at College House, Flatt Walks, Whitehaven, at 4pm.   

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."   

Citizenship ceremonies were introduced earlier this year by the Government to make more meaningful what had 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 appplicant 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 tradional 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.    

The new citizen is then presented with a certificate of British nationality. In Cumbria he or she will also be given a specially designed paperweight as a memento of the occasion.   

The Whitehaven ceremony will be conducted by superintendent registrar Sandra Boardman. Councillor Richardson will be the local dignitary making an address. The Mayor of Copeland will also attend.   

Other recently-introduced ceremonies available at Cumbria register offices are 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.