The Mayor of London Boris Johnson today welcomed 33 new citizens representing each of London’s boroughs at a ceremony in City Hall.
The Mayor presented each new citizen with a certificate and a small gift commemorating their British Citizenship during the ceremony. The celebration was also attended by the Chair of the London Assembly Roger Evans, Brent and Barnet’s Superintendent Registrar Mark Rimmer OBE, borough mayors and proud friends and family.
Although each local authority has a legal duty to hold citizenship ceremonies, the Mayor of London first held this pan-London event in 2008. This is the sixth time that the citizenship ceremony has been held at City Hall, with special ceremonies also occurring at a number of locations across the country.
The Mayor, said: “London’s diverse and dynamic communities play a vital role in its economic and cultural success. Today’s ceremony celebrates our city’s long held tradition of welcoming new citizens and acknowledging the tremendous value of their contributions. Congratulations to all new British citizens and especially to those taking part in City Hall’s ceremony.”
Chair of the London Assembly, Roger Evans said, “I am proud to welcome Britain’s newest citizens to London and City Hall. Today is an opportunity to celebrate London’s diversity and the many benefits migrants bring to the UK.”
Overlooking proceedings was Superintendent Registrar for Brent and Barnet, Mark Rimmer OBE, who said: “I am delighted that the Mayor has decided to host another Citizenship Ceremony and I am honoured to have been requested to conduct the ceremony at City Hall once again”
“This year is very special in that it is 10 years since the very first ceremony in the UK which was held in Brent. I conducted that first ceremony and they still have the capacity to make me feel humble and proud that participants are so thrilled to become British”.