The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will visit the Severn Valley and Talyllyn railways on its final journey through England this summer.
Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey bringing together and celebrates communities throughout the Commonwealth during the build up to the games. In England, the Queen’s Baton Relay will provide the opportunity for communities to experience the excitement for Birmingham 2022, as the 11 days of show-stopping sport nears ever closer.
The Queen’s Baton Relay is set to travel the length and breadth of England for a total of 29 days, before culminating at the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on July 28. Kicking off onJune 2, the baton will spend four days in London, coinciding with The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Weekend. The baton will then resume the international journey and return to England on July 4to commence a 25-day tour of the regions.
The England leg of the relay, partnered with Longines, has a busy schedule of events planned. It will visit the Severn Valley Railway during its journey through the West Midlands on July 23.
Helen Smith, the SVR’s managing director, said: “We are looking forward to celebrating the arrival of the baton and everyone here is excited to give it a warm welcome.”
The relay will arrive at Talyllyn and Abergynolwyn on June 30, having arrived in Wales the day before. The baton will be conveyed by train on the Talyllyn Railway during part of the leg; this isn’t a public train, but people are welcome to wave it off.
The railway’s general manager, Stuart Williams, said: “It’s a great honour to be involved with the relay and provide the only piece of travel by steam on the 90,000 mile journey that the baton has travelled around the Commonwealth!”
Thousands of baton-bearers, each with inspiring backgrounds and stories, will have the honour of carrying the baton during the journey, including those nominated in recognition of their contributions to their local community, whether that be in sport, education, the arts, culture or charity. Between 40 and 130 bearers will carry the Baton each day, and the relay will reach hundreds of villages, towns and cities during its tour of the country. Travelling via land, air and sea, more than 180 communities in England will experience the relay on a route spanning 2500 miles. From energetic cities and historic market towns, to rolling countryside and rugged coastline, the baton will head as far south as Cornwall and as far north as Northumberland.
Since its inaugural appearance at the Cardiff 1958 Commonwealth Games, The Queen’s Baton Relay has been a tradition for the Commonwealth Games. The Birmingham 2022 relay began at Buckingham Palace on October 7 last year, when The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox, the first bearer.
The dates of when the Baton visits each region are:
- July 4/5: South West
- July 6/7: South East
- July 8/9: East of England
- July 10/11: East Midlands
- July 12/13: Yorkshire and the Humber
- July 14/15: North East
- July 16/17: North West
- July 18/28: West Midlands
For more information, click here. The information provided on the route through England is subject to local authority approval and therefore could be subject to change.
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