The British passport is one of the most powerful passports worldwide. It allows travel across one-hundred and forty-eight countries and territories without a visa and a further thirty-nine with one but being a British citizen means much more than that to Dena Smith Ellis.
On Wednesday, April 3 Dena, her family and close friends attended a ceremony at Hastings Town Hall. After years of form-filling and bureaucracy the moment had come when she was handed her certificate of naturalisation: she was finally a British citizen. The sheer exhilaration was overwhelming and now the celebrations could start.
On Saturday, April 6 the community centre on Conduit Hill was turned into a replica of the very traditional village fête. Bunting, hay-bales and gazebos looked festive and inviting. The trestle tables were laid out with traditional afternoon tea fare and the music played.
Dena looking resplendent in red and as happy as an English queen, welcoming all her guests, and the hall was soon filled with an excited throng.
Living in Rye and wanting to embrace all the local English traditions Dena had asked Paul Goring, Rye’s inimitable town crier, to welcome her British citizenship with a cry.
Here is a small excerpt:
“Oyez! Oyez! Oyez!
“Be it known to all good people gathered here today to celebrate the granting of British citizenship to Dena Marie Smith Ellis.
“Whereas Dena was born in the American colonial territories, she comes from solid Irish, English and Scottish ancestry, including a native Liverpudlian grandmother. Her presence here in the UK is, in effect, a returning home
“Whereas Dena suffered through six years of supreme British bureaucracy, filing hundreds of documents on four separate occasions, and coughing up big bags of dosh, she persevered in true Churchillian fashion to achieve her goal. Let’s all show her it was worth it.
“Therefore be it known to all that Dena Marie Smith Ellis, a newly-settled resident of our ancient and illustrious town of Rye, will enjoy all the rights, privileges and benefits of life in our community in the hope that you’ll all be patient with her longer journey of learning to speak using our local dialect. As a real Brit, she will henceforth – hopefully – be engaging in meaningful chit-chats and ample complaints about our wonderful weather.
“Let’s all give a rousing cheer to our newest true blue UK citizen, Dena Smith Ellis!
Hip-hip, hooray!”
Dena replied with a short speech thanking her friends and family for all the support she had received throughout this long journey:
“I am truly honoured and humbled to be standing before you as a freshly-minted citizen of the United Kingdom! I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all of you who have supported and encouraged me on this journey. Your love, friendship, and guidance have been my greatest strength, and I am truly blessed to have you in my life.”
“I have found a home here, a place where I can pursue my dreams and build a future for myself and my loved ones.
“Becoming a citizen of the UK is a dream come true for me, and I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and freedoms that this country has bestowed upon me. I am proud to call myself a British citizen, and I am eager to contribute to the vibrant and diverse tapestry of this nation.
“As we celebrate today, let us not forget the values that define the UK – tolerance, respect, inclusivity, and unity. Let us continue to embrace diversity and difference, and to stand together as one community, bound by a common purpose and vision.
“Thank you once again for being here today to share in this joyous occasion. Let us raise our glasses and toast to the United Kingdom, a place I am proud to call my home. Cheers to a bright future filled with endless possibilities and opportunities. Thank you, and God bless the UK.”
The party continued with music and dancing and a truly British quiz in three parts. Everyone who came spoke of the love and affection that had filled the room and everyone had a wonderful time.
Image Credits: Kt bruce , Sally Bayly .
Wonderful story, congrats to Dena!
Why have l not yet got my citizenship, l have been in in England for the past 31 years and have worked and contributed to the country.
This section is troublesome:
“Whereas Dena was born in the American colonial territories, she comes from solid Irish, English and Scottish ancestry, including a native Liverpudlian grandmother”
The use of the term “American colonial territories” is clearly ridiculous. But to then go on and imply she has more right to be a British citizen due to ancestry – as opposed to meeting the conditions alone – is really grim.
I congratulate Dena on her British citizenship. It is deserved because she met the conditions, not because of ancestry.
Henry,
I think the Town Cryer’s ‘ Cry’ ( Speech ) was pure fun. It was a celebratory evening for Dena’s invited guests… humour and laughter..
Henry,
I’m Dena’s husband and wrote the “ridiculous”
speech kindly read by the town Crier. My apologies if it appeared to imply anything to do with rights to citizenship. My intention was purely to bring some humour into the celebration. The official and very formal presentation was held a few days prior in the Hastings Town Hall and was by contrast all very serious.