THERE is now less than one month to go until the Queen's Baton Relay visits Devizes. 

The Queen’s Baton Relay is a Commonwealth Games tradition that aims to celebrate, connect and excite communities across the Commonwealth in the build-up to the Games.

The Relay began on October 7 at Buckingham Palace when The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth into the Baton. The Baton will have been travelling for a total of 294 days and has visited all nations and territories of the Commonwealth.

The final leg of the Queen’s Baton Relay will be through communities across England.

Devizes will welcome the relay on Tuesday, July 5, before it makes its way to the host city of Birmingham, where it will have a central role in the Opening Ceremony on July 28.

During its time in Devizes, the Queen’s Baton Relay will begin the first leg of the day, starting in the Market Place at 8am, and taking a journey through the town on a horse-drawn dray towards the canal. where it will travel by canal boat down to Caen Hill Locks. 

This Is Wiltshire:

Members of the public are encouraged to come along and watch, and spectating opportunities will be provided at Market Place and along the canal tow path.

Councillor Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council, said: “We are honoured to have been chosen to be one of the communities to receive a visit, and we look forward to welcoming the Batonbearers to Devizes.

“We hope to see lots of members of the public in the Market Place and lining the canal path to see the Baton travel through Devizes, and to get involved in the celebrations.”

Cllr Peter Corbett, Devizes Town Mayor said, “We are very excited that the Queen’s Baton Relay will be coming to Devizes. It will give our community an amazing opportunity to experience the buzz of the country, as our sportsmen and women prepare to join with those across the Commonwealth for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“Although it may be an early start, we hope members of our community come and see the Baton as it visits the only town in Wiltshire.”

One of the Devizes Batonbearers is Thelma Edwards, who was nominated for her voluntary work with the Canal & River Trust. Thelma has worked to develop new attractions and projects to ensure the charity reaches out to young people, creating a junior lock keeper project to give young people the experience of looking after the canal. Thelma will be taking the Baton along the canal.

For more information on the Devizes event, go to devizes-tc.gov.uk/.