Commonwealth Games Baton Will Use Lifeboat and Helicopter During Yorkshire Coast Visit

The Commonwealth Games Baton Relay will be on the Yorkshire Coast next Wednesday and more details have ben revealed about it's route.

On Wednesday 13 July, the Queen’s Baton Relay will visit Scarborough, Fylingthorpe, Robin Hood’s Bay and Whitby during its 25-day tour of England in the final countdown to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Borough Council's portfolio holder for for Quality of Life - Councillor Jim Grieve - explains the route

Councillor Grieve says the baton has an interesting journey from Robin Hood's Bay

Once at the abbey the baton will take part in a free public show before leaving by Coastguard helicopter.

The Queen’s Baton boasts a 360 degrees camera, LED lighting, heartrate sensor, Queen’s message compartment and atmospheric sensors with laser technology that analyse the environmental conditions wherever it is in the world. It is made of copper, aluminium and brass with a platinum strand woven through it, which pays homage to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, in her Platinum Jubilee year.

This special fusion of science, technology, engineering and art will be carried by 27 Batonbearers of varying ages through the borough, starting in Scarborough South Bay.

BATON RELAY TIMINGS

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 colourful 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 the picturesque village of 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 challenging 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 on 13 July, 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.”

On the day the Baton will start it's journey in Hull, before visiting Beverly, York and Malton on it's way to Scarborough.