The Queen's baton relay to travel through the Borough of Scarborough
It is as part of the build up to the Commonwealth games in Birmingham later this month
The Queen's baton relay will travel through parts of the Borough of Scarborough today.
It is as part of the build up to the Commonwealth games in Birmingham later this month
This afternoon it will make the journey from Scarborough to Robin Hood's Bay before arriving in Whitby later.
There will be 27 batonbearers going on the route - here are some of them:
25-year-old Josh Bearsley-Hall - Bridlington police officer
Josh has been a campaigner to raise awareness of Huntington’s disease and has been nominated by the Huntington’s Disease charity to carry the baton.
When Josh was just 10 years old, he lost his mum to the disease which brought absolute devastation to his family.
Huntington’s disease is a condition that stops part of the brain working properly over time and is passed on from a person’s parents.
Josh was diagnosed with the disease himself at 18 and has raised a huge amount of money and continues to try and make people more aware of the disease and its effects.
Josh said: “I am really honoured to have been nominated by the Huntington’s Disease charity and I am very proud to carry the baton as it makes its way to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
“Only 2022 people have the honour of carrying the baton and to be chosen is a real privilege.”
Josh has no symptoms currently and added: “I know the disease could affect me at any time so I’m making the most of life to raise awareness and fund raise for Huntington Disease research, in the hope that a cure can be found, with any luck in my lifetime.”
If you want to know more about Huntington’s Disease or donate go onto the website: HDA
71-year-old David Wilson - Haxby Group nurse in Scarborough
David was nominated by his daughter, Claire, and he was selected after coming out of retirement to become a Covid vaccinator in Scarborough. David also took up the role of Vaccination Services Coordinator.
After carrying the baton today, he will continue his work at the vaccination clinic at Haxby group's Lawrence House GP survey tomorrow (Thursday 14th July).
David said: “This is a great honour for myself and my team. I’m going to be carrying the baton for all the vaccinators who have provided such a great service here in Scarborough.”
He recently celebrated 50-years of NHS service and has been a firm fixture in the local NHS for the past half century, having nursed at Scarborough and Bridlington hospitals as a ward manager and duty site coordinator.
He added: "I’m honoured to have played my part in the vaccination effort alongside my dedicated and hard-working colleagues.”
21-year-old Andrew Brighton - Whitby RNLI crew member
Whitby RNLI will be involved in the latter leg of the relay route.
Coxswain, Howard Fields, said: "It's taking quite a few months of planning in the background to get this far. It's a great opportunity for the volunteers here at Whitby. It's a great opportunity for the town to come and see the baton. It'll be the first time that it's visited Whitby and it may be quite some time before it comes again, so to be part of that event is a great privilege.
"Andy has been chosen to carry the baton from Robin Hood's Bay to the lifeboat station at Whitby. He's been with us for approximately four years. He started at 17-years of age with permission from his parents. He's been very involved with everything we do. He's currently our youngest crew member as well.
“We are delighted that the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will visit Whitby RNLI today, as part of its incredible journey through England this summer. Our volunteers are looking forward to celebrating the arrival of the Baton and everyone here is excited to give it a warm welcome.”
The route
At 3.47pm the Baton will be handed to the first Batonbearer at the southern end of Foreshore Road. The Queen’s Baton Relay will head along Foreshore Road, Sandside, Marine Drive, Royal Albert Drive and the North Bay promenade via a succession of Batonbearers who will run or walk with the Baton.
After a short pause outside the beach huts for photographs, the Baton will be transferred to the vehicle convoy for its journey north.
The Baton’s next stop will be the village of Fylingthorpe. It will arrive at Fylingdales C of E Primary School at 5.14pm for a ten minutes visit so that the school children have the opportunity to get up close to the Baton.
At 5.24pm, Batonbearers will progress the Queen’s Baton Relay along Thorpe Lane into Robin Hood’s Bay. They will continue down Station Road and the steep incline of New Road until the Baton reaches the shoreline.
A handover to the RNLI inshore lifeboat will take place at 5.40pm. 21-year-old Batonbearer and Whitby RNLI crew member, Andrew Brighton, will take the precious cargo to the RNLI all-weather lifeboat for its journey, by sea, to Whitby.
At 6.38pm the Baton will disembark from the lifeboat onto dry land at the RNLI Whitby Lifeboat Station. Andrew Brighton will pass the Baton to the next Batonbearer who will take it up to Whitby Abbey via Church Street, Church Lane and the 199 steps.
The Baton will be taken into the grounds of the abbey at 6.45pm for an open public celebration to mark’s the Baton’s visit to Whitby.
The abbey will be open to all for the celebration and English Heritage is offering free entry for Whitby residents (proof of address will be required).
From 6.45pm to 7.15pm, the Baton will be on show for people to see it and photograph it or take selfies. People will also be able to take part in archery with the Whitby Company of Archers, and other activities within the abbey grounds.
At 7.15pm, it will be time for the Baton to take to the skies. It will be transferred to a HM Coastguard Sikorsky S92 helicopter to continue its onward journey out of the borough to Sedgefield.
Councillor Jim Grieve, Scarborough Borough Council cabinet member for quality of life said:
“It will be a privilege to welcome the eye-catching Queen’s Baton and inspirational Batonbearers to the borough.
“I hope it will inspire people to come together to mark the countdown to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and continue Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.”
Matt Hewison, Scarborough Borough Council sports development manager, said:
“We are proud of our work with our local partners and the organisers of the Queen’s Baton Relay to put in place a journey via land, sea and air with fantastic views of the North Yorkshire coast.
“I encourage people to head out to the route, see the stunning Baton for themselves and cheer on the Batonbearers as they play their part in the 2,500-mile Queen’s Baton Relay around England.”