Queen’s Baton Relay in Bury St Edmunds next weekend

Residents and visitors are invited to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay as it makes its only stop in Suffolk when it comes to Bury St Edmunds, on Saturday, July 9.

The relay will arrive in the Abbey Gardens at 1.20pm and be carried around the grounds and historic Abbey ruins by three batonbearers, before being delivered to the Festival of Suffolk Community Games, being held at Bury’s Athletics Track, on Beetons Way.

Mike Chester, chair of West Suffolk Council, said: “This moment joins West Suffolk to communities in 72 Commonwealth nations and protectorates, as we welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay and help it on its way to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

“I am delighted that it will visit the Abbey Gardens and cathedral, as we celebrate its 1,000th birthday. I’m also delighted that it will be visiting the Suffolk Community Games  to inspire our young people. I hope that as many people as possible will come and join us in greeting the baton and the baton bearers on the day.”

The baton relay begins at the Holocaust Memorial where the Rev Canon Matthew Vernon, Canon Pastor and Sub Dean of the Cathedral, will present the baton to the first of three batonbearers who will take it around the gardens and historic ruins.

It will arrive back in the centre of the formal garden before being taken onwards to the Suffolk Community Games.