One week to go until the Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay visits Devizes

With only one week to go until the Birmingham 2022 Queen's Baton Relay visits Devizes, excitement in the town is building.

The Queen's Baton Relay is a Games tradition that aims to celebrate, connect and excite communities across the Commonwealth in the build up to the Games. The Relay began on 7 October 2021 at Buckingham Palace when The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton. The journey through Devizes will form part of the Baton's final route through England this Summer, leading up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games in July.

Devizes is the first leg of the Baton route for 5 July.  Starting in the Market Place at 8am, it will take a journey through the town on a horse drawn dray towards the Kennet & Avon Canal and then travel by boat and on foot down the tow path towards the famous Caen Hill Locks.

People from Devizes and further afield are encouraged to come along, get involved with the celebrations and cheer the Baton on its final journey towards the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Spectating opportunities will be available in the Market Place and along the canal tow path.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said, We are ready and excited to welcome the Queen's Baton Relay to Wiltshire, and Devizes is looking splendid for the occasion. A key objective of the council is to ensure that our Wiltshire communities continue to be exciting places to live, so we hope that by hosting this event people would agree we are working towards that!

We are honoured to have been chosen to be one of the communities to receive a visit and have enjoyed working with partners from both Devizes Town Council and Canal & River Trust to put on a great event for the local community.

We are also looking forward to the start of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and would like to wish good luck to all of the local Wiltshire athletes who have worked hard to represent their country. We wish you every success.

Cllr Peter Corbett, Devizes Town Mayor said, Devizes is ready to welcome the Queen's Baton Relay to the town on the 5 July and we are so pleased that members of our community will be amongst those carrying the Baton from the Market Place to the Caen Hill Locks.

The Baton has already travelled to Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania and the Caribbean, so join us in Devizes to send the baton on its final stretch of the journey across the length and breadth of England before arriving at the Opening Ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games on 28 July.

Thousands of Batonbearers, 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 that be in sport, education, the arts, culture or charity.

One of the Devizes Batonbearers is Sam Russell-Pierce, Sam has Downs Syndrome and last year was nominated for an unsung hero award for his support for essential workers throughout the pandemic. This year he is taking on 21 personal challenges to raise money for 2 local charities and has already raised over £4,000. He has completed 15 challenges so far, including jet skiing, a flying lesson, steam train driving, surfing and many more.

To accommodate the Queen's Baton Relay route, both Couch Lane car park and Market Place car park will be closed from 4pm Monday 4 July until after the event.

For more information on the Devizes event, including timings, spectator areas and car park information, visit www.devizes-tc.gov.uk/devizes-welcomes-the-birmingham-2022-queens-baton-relay (opens new window).

For information on the Queen's Baton Relay, visit www.birmingham2022.com/qbr (opens new window).