Queen's Baton Relay heads to Suffolk's Community Games
It has travelled thousands of miles across the world on its way to Birmingham for the Commonwealth Games - and yesterday, it was Suffolk's turn to welcome it home
Last updated 11th Jul 2022
For its one and only stop in the county, the Queen's Baton received an emphatic welcome from locals and residents as it arrived in Suffolk on the final leg of its journey on Saturday.
The baton was passed to three bearers around Abbey Gardens before making its way towards Bury's Athletics Track, host to the Festival of Suffolk Community Games.
With the relay connecting communities and representing the very essence of the Commonwealth, Suffolk's very own 'Heroes' embraced their roles with pride.
Di Russ was one of those. She's a teacher, and said: "It was more emotional than I thought it was going to be... and it was lovely that we did this in our county - and what a fantastic opportunity!
"It was just so special to be part of the journey of the baton to the Games. I was just looking at it in awe, and I hope this will in inspire children to do sport and be proud of what they're achieving."
The baton has been on quite a journey - having set off from Buckingham Palace on its travels across the globe on October 7 last year, embarking on a journey 294 days (and 90,000 miles) long.
How Suffolk welcomed the baton
Here in Suffolk, and the lucky batonbearers are part of a select group of around 7,500 people given the privilege of carrying the flame as it makes its way to Birmingham.
Clare FitzRoy, Countess of Euston, is Her Majesty the Queen's personal representative in Suffolk, as her Lord-Lieutenant.
She attended the event at Bury's Athletic Track and said: "I got quite emotional - the relay has been all around the world, and I think the Commonwealth is such a good thing in a difficult world, with countries coming together to work with each other.
"The Queen sees sport as a huge unifier right across the Commonwealth and this country, and I think she would have found everything at our festival really jolly and fun. She really wanted us to have a good time after the past couple of rotten years - and I think today, we've done that!"
It's the 16th relay of its kind, with the Queen traditionally writing a message inside, to be read on the day of the Opening Ceremony.
A former Olympian also came down to the Festival in support of the Games - and to take a glimpse at the baton as people waved it through the park.
Bill Tancred won bronze and silver medals in the 1968 and 1972 Olympics, and said: "Just to see the baton coming through my lovely county of Suffolk brought back memories of my competition days.
"Here at the festival, trying to encourage people to take part in sport is a wonderful, wonderful thing."
Felix Baluch hugs his father after carrying the baton
Felix Baluch hugs his father after carrying the baton
The Queen's Baton was part of wider celebrations
The day's events at the Suffolk Community Games held at Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre and King Edward VI School were part of the 2022 Festival of Suffolk, taking the lead in the region for celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
Organisers set out to ensure they had something for everyone, hosting the Suffolk Special Olympic Games, Wildcat Football Festivals and an Ipswich Town Football Club Fun Zone, alongside more traditional (and less sporting) activities for people to try their hand at.
Activities included BMX, climbing, circus skills, skateboarding and paddleboarding - to name just five.
James Payne, Senior Development Officer and Safeguarding Lead at Active Suffolk, said: "To be able to provide young people with access to things they'd not normally get to do is brilliant, and by giving them new things to try, hopefully that's the catalyst to get more of us to be more active, too.
"Today's the culmination of all the hard work me and my team have put in to making this happen. It makes me very proud."
What's Baton Relay route looking like across England?
The Baton has travelled to all 72 Commonwealth nations and protectorates, and is currently on a relay across the country before arriving in Birmingham in time for the Commonwealth Games later this month. The UK route sees the baton heading through these regions:
4 July – 5 July: South West
6 July – 7 July: South East
8 July – 9 July: East of England
10 July – 11 July: East Midlands
12 July – 13 July: Yorkshire and the Humber
14 July – 15 July: North East
16 July – 17 July: North West
18 July – 28 July: West Midlands
Find out more about the Festival of Suffolk: https://www.festivalofsuffolk.org/