The Isle of Man Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) marked Commonwealth Day, March 14, by a hosting a dinner for present and former CPA members at which Sir Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West, was guest speaker. Sir Peter, who was awarded his knighthood in the 2011 New Year Honours List, said he was ‘delighted and honoured’ to have been invited to the Island and share in the Commonwealth Day celebrations. The veteran MP went on to say the Isle of Man was an important part of the Commonwealth, recognised for its unique traditions and seen by many as ‘the birthplace of parliamentary democracy.’ The self-funded event was held at the Sefton Hotel, with entertainment provided by the senior guitar ensemble from the Isle of Man Department of Education and Children’s music service. Isle of Man CPA branch chairman Clare Christian MLC said: ‘Once again the Isle of Man branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association met to mark Commonwealth Day here in the Island and was pleased to have Sir Peter Bottomley as our guest speaker on this occasion. ‘This is the centenary year of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, an organisation which has done much to widen our understanding of those countries, both large and small, which comprise the Commonwealth and espouse the principles of parliamentary democracy. The CPA also affords us a platform from which we can continue to raise the profile of the Island beyond our shores and, locally, encourage a wider understanding of the Commonwealth through the work being done in some of our schools this year to mark the association’s centenary.’ In tandem with the dinner the Isle of Man branch of the CPA had selected two Manx students, Laura Jackson, 25, from Greeba and Emma Kiver, 20, from Peel, both studying at Queen Mary College, University of London, to attend the Commonwealth Day observance events in London, the theme for which was Women as Agents of Change. Miss Kiver said that along with the opportunity to see Her Majesty the Queen one of the day’s highlights had been the speech delivered by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the Honourable Ms Kamla Persad-Bissessar, the first woman to hold the post of Commonwealth Chair-in-Office, who spoke at the House of Commons on the role of women’s education in transforming society. Ends