Passing the Baton

Today was the day that the Commonwealth Games Queen's Relay Baton came to the Falkirk Council area. Having travelled the world and visited every Commonwealth country, the baton is now touring Scotland (with a hectic schedule each day) before the Games start in Glasgow on 23 July.

The day started around 8am in Denny, with a number of baton carriers each carrying the baton for about 200 metres through the town, before the first 'set piece' event at Denny High School (where this picture was taken). Visits to various communities and locations in the Falkirk area followed, with the final event of the day taking place at the Helix Park from 6pm onwards.

Having seen the baton in Denny in the morning, I returned to The Helix in the evening and was quite taken by the sense of fun and community engagement - there were choirs of schoolchildren and try-a-sport activities and lots of people enjoying the sunshine and sense of occasion. A day to remember.