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Held in concert with the High Commissioners, their spouses and other members of
the Commonwealth diplomatic circle at the Kensington Town Hall on Hornton Street, 2010’s Annual Commonwealth Fair
was as much a success as it has always been. Billed to run from 11.30am to 6.00pm,
the venue was already teaming with stallholders and fair attendees as early as 8am.
As has been the tradition year after year, the stalls showcased an amazing array
of wares and foods from around the Commonwealth, sold in an effort to raise the
much needed fund to sustain the CCL’s charitable arm: the CCL Education Fund. Leaving
attendees in no doubt, the backdrop to the fair was a continuous tribute and reminder
of the girls the Fund sponsor and the difference sponsorship makes to their lives.
It was a continuous assertion of the CCLEF’s Commitment to Changing Lives through
Education and Friendship. Good will Messages were sent by the Prime Minister; Rt
Hon David Cameron, HRH The prince of Wales and the President of Pakistan HE Asif
Ali Zardari, amongst others. |
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The fair was officially opened by the High Commissioner of Pakistan; Mr Wajid Shamsul
Hasan whose wife (Zarina Wajid Hasan) is the 2010 Fair Chairwoman. Fantastic entertainment
was provided by DJ Blondie, Kiribatu Tungaru Dance Group, the Fiji Dancers, Music
by Tony Charles Steel Orchestra and a fantastic showcase of fashion around the Commonwealth
put together by Angela Cox. For the younger generation, there was story –telling,
dance by First Impression- a Caribbean young people’s dance troop and more Fiji
Dancing. The Fair closed with a sing along; ‘Dil Dil Pakistan’ shortly after the
annual Grand draw whose prizes included a pair of Economy Class travel tickets on
British Airways donated by Masterfare, an oval Ruby and Diamond set Gold pendant
and chain donated by SOCA and BGI Gem Laboratory and the President’s Hamper donated
by CCL’s President; Louisa Service, amongst others. It was generally agreed that
every one of the 15 prizes was worthy of a grand prize. |
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In no better way would the event and its purpose be described than in the words
of the Commonwealth Secretary General, H E Kamalesh Sharma ‘The Commonwealth Fair
brings us the intimate and personal Commonwealth-we see it, smell it, taste it,
hear it. It is the Commonwealth close up, united in diversity and celebrating life…we
have never ceased to stress that the status and opportunities of women are the surest
indicators of a society. Where women prosper, societies prosper; and where women
suffer, so too do the societies in which they live, whether the men realise it or
not’. |
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The CCL Education Fund is absolutely serious in its commitment to educate young
girls, and heroic in its achievements. |
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