Holyhead RNLI To Spearhead Jubilee Commonwealth Baton Relay
The Queen’s Commonwealth Baton Relay is to be brought ashore by a Welsh RNLI lifeboat, and carried by one of the charity’s helms as it arrives to the Home Nations this Wednesday (29 June)
Holyhead’s Severn class lifeboat, Christopher Pearce, working in tandem with its inshore D-class lifeboat, Mary and Archie Hooper, will deliver the baton onto Welsh shores – proudly held by station volunteer helm Marc Falloon. They will also be flanked by the lifeboat from neighbouring station Trearddur Bay.
A fanfare and RAF Valley flypast at around 9am will herald the baton's arrival; as crewman Marc comes ashore with the baton.
Birmingham is hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games at the end of July – and the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay, in this special Platinum Jubilee year, has seen the baton travel around the Commonwealth, taking in places such as New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, the African nations, and has already been to Scotland and Northern Ireland, before it comes to Wales and travels on to its destination in Birmingham.
The Baton Relay brings together communities as it travels around the world. In Wales, the Queen’s Baton Relay will provide the opportunity for those communities to experience the exciting build for Birmingham 2022, as the 11 days of the showstopping event nears ever closer.
During its time in Anglesey the Queen’s Baton Relay will visit Holyhead, coming ashore at the RNLI Lifeboat Station on Newry beach, before travelling on across the island.
Carrying the Baton from Holyhead is the charity’s D-Class Helm Marc Falloon, who has served with the RNLI since 2013.
Speaking of his role in Wednesday’s events, Marc said:
‘It is a real privilege to be a part of the Queen’s Baton Relay. Not only is it a great honour for me, but it is fantastic for the RNLI to be included in the Commonwealth ceremony’
‘Our volunteers are looking forward to celebrating the arrival of the baton and everyone here is excited to give it a warm welcome.’
Holyhead’s coxswain Tony Price added:
‘It’s wonderful for our town, and our area to have been selected for this great occasion. It shows how central we are to the UK and Ireland, and we’re thrilled one of our crew has been asked to bring the baton ashore to carry on its journey.’
The Queen’s Baton Relay is set to travel through Wales over five days, before returning to England, and culminating at the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on 28 July.
The baton has visited Commonwealth nations and territories in Europe, Africa, Oceania, Caribbean and the Americas, with the Home Nations being the last stop, consisting of five days in Scotland, four in Northern Ireland and five in Wales, where it will finish on Sunday 3 July in Swansea, before returning to England in summer for the final countdown to the Commonwealth Games.
Please note, further information and photo/interview opportunities will be available on the day/after the event.
For any further information on the RNLI's involvement, please contact:
Vicki Owens, Holyhead RNLI Press Officer, on 07531 681409, email [email protected]
Scott Dixon, RNLI Media Placement Officer on 07890 066217, email [email protected]
For more information on the Baton Relay, please visit https://teamwales.cymru/en/events/queens-baton-relay/ for the full day-to-day schedule of the Queen’s Baton Relay while in Wales.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.
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Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
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