The Queen's Baton Relay is coming to this Wiltshire town ahead of the Commonwealth Games

It has been announced that The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will visit Devizes in Wiltshire during its final journey through England this summer.

The relay is part of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations and will end at the Opening Ceremony for The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

The Relay will travel the length and breadth of England for a total of 29 days, before culminating at the Opening Ceremony for Birmingham 2022 on 28 July 2022.

Kicking off on Thursday 2nd June, 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 Monday 4th July to commence a 25-day tour of the regions.

On Tuesday 5th July 2022, Devizes will officially welcome the Baton.

A busy schedule of activities and events are planned for the Queen’s Baton Relay, with opportunities to highlight untold stories from Batonbearers who are striving for change in their community.

During its time in Devizes, the Queen’s Baton Relay will begin the first leg of the day, starting in the market square and taking a route through the town towards the canal where it will travel by canal boat down to Caen Hill Locks.

The schedule of activity for the Baton’s time in Devizes includes:

0805 Baton relay starts in Market Square
0815 Baton travels on canal boat and tow path towards Caen Hill Locks

Members of the public are encouraged to get involved with the celebrations and embrace the arrival of the Baton, taking the opportunity to experience the buzz of Birmingham 2022 in their community.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said, “We are very excited to be chosen to be a part of the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay, and we look forward to welcoming the Batonbearers to Wiltshire.

“As a county, we are very proud of our athletes, a number of whom will hopefully be selected to take part in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. We are proud to provide funding opportunities to help these athletes on their way to fulfil their sporting ambitions. We wish them and all the athletes every success this summer.

“We would encourage members of the public to come along and see the Baton travel through Devizes on the morning of Tuesday 5 July, and to get involved in the celebrations.”

Introducing the highly-anticipated route the Queen’s Baton Relay will take through England this summer!

Travelling via land, air and sea, more than 180 communities will experience #QBR2022 on a route spanning 2,500 miles.

More info: https://t.co/O0G41HMvpq pic.twitter.com/2m66qSIInk

— Birmingham 2022 (@birminghamcg22) May 11, 2022

Chris Gay, Devizes Town Mayor added, "We are delighted that The Queen’s Baton Relay Route for the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham will be coming to Devizes. We will look forward to cheering on the Batonbearers as they make their way from the Market Place to the Caen Hill locks along the canal.

“Devizes embraces the Commonwealth Games mission in bringing people together, improving health and wellbeing, supporting growth and success and being open to positive change. Therefore, Devizes rightly takes its place in being part of the Queen’s Baton Relay on 5th July.”

Thousands of Batonbearers, each with inspiring backgrounds and stories, will have the honour of carrying the Baton during the journey through England, including those nominated in recognition of their contributions to their local community, whether in sport, education, the arts, culture or charity.

Between 40 and 130 Batonbearers will carry the Baton each day, and the Relay will reach hundreds of villages, towns and cities during its tour of the country.

One of the confirmed community Batonbearers in Devizes is Thelma Edwards, who was nominated for her many years of voluntary work with the Canal and River Trust. She is instrumental to the charity locally; leading its visitor welcoming services, as well as training and mentoring new volunteers.

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 Queen’s Baton Relay began at Buckingham Palace on 7 October 2021, when The Queen placed Her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton and passed it to four-time Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox, who had the honour of being the first of thousands of Batonbearers to carry the Baton.

Since then, the Baton has visited Commonwealth nations and territories in Europe, Africa, Oceania. It still has further destinations in the Caribbean, the Americas, and more countries in Europe, including the Home Nations consisting of five days in Scotland, four in Northern Ireland and five in Wales, where it will finish on Sunday 3 July, before returning to England in summer for the final countdown to the Commonwealth Games.

The dates of when the Baton visits each region are:

Commonwealth Games Federation President Dame Louise Martin DBE said, “The Queen’s Baton Relay symbolises hope, solidarity and collaboration across the Commonwealth at a time when it is needed most. It continues to inspire people wherever it goes and creates huge excitement for Birmingham 2022 as it journeys towards the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony on 28th July.”

For more information on the Queen’s Baton Relay click here.

The information provided on the route through England is subject to local authority approval and therefore could be subject to change.