Crowds took to the streets of the North East on Thursday (July 14) to cheer through the Queen’s Baton Relay that celebrated the best of community spirit and unsung heroes and also marked the build-up of the Commonwealth Games.
In what is now the 16th Queen’s Baton Relay, the occasion was used to support the Games, which will take place in Birmingham from Thursday, July 28 until Monday, August 8 – with the relay making its way through the Commonwealth countries since September 2021 – highlighting the best of each community as it goes.
In England, the relay began on July 4 at the Eden Project, but on Thursday – it was the turn of the North East to show what it could offer in terms of spirit and passion for sport.
Read more: Darlington on the Commonwealth Games baton relay
Beginning in Saltburn, batonbearers that had been selected for their contributions to the community, whether that is charity, sporting efforts, or being a shining star of their community, set off on small distances of carrying the baton.
Making its way through Redcar, Middlesbrough, and Stockton-in-Tees, it arrived in Darlington at 1pm to a rapturous applause from the people of the town and children from the local schools.
Abbey Road Primary School was selected as the starting point for the Darlington leg of the relay – where its pupils warmly welcomed all of those taking part.
From there, it headed down Duke Street, onto Skinnergate, before the batonbearers made their way towards Blackwellgate and the Market Square.
Once there, all of those that had taken part were greeted with an electric atmosphere from the hundreds that had turned out to see them.
One of the batonbearers that had taken part was Steve Jackson from Newton Aycliffe, who was selected for his 30 years of coaching diving at Darlington’s Dolphin Centre.
Mr Jackson, who has coached medallists at the highest level in the past and has competed for Great Britain himself, told The Northern Echo: “It’s a fantastic occasion – I’ve loved every second of the day. I don’t think many realise how many people have held the baton – it’s a very special thing and something that I’m honoured to take part in.”
Alongside his involvement in the relay, Mr Jackson provided an iconic and daredevilish moment of the afternoon after riders from stunt group Team Extreme took turns to ride up a ramp and land inches from the swim coaches’ face.
With all the high-octane performance done, the baton relay continued to Durham – where it travelled from Claypath, to Market Place, along Palace Green, before Olympic rower Jessica Eddie, who is originally from Durham, took it along the River Wear, before the baton was taken to Durham Racecourse.
The rower, who retired after the Rio Olympics in 2016 after receiving a silver medal, told The Northern Echo about her pride in carrying the baton through her historic home city.
She said: “I wasn’t nervous until a policeman handed me the baton and said, ‘don’t drop it’.
“What an amazing occasion to be part of. The amount of inspirational people that I have met that have raised thousands for charity to overcoming huge obstacles, what a motivation – and what a day!”
Despite the presence of Olympians and people that have achieved sporting goals at the highest level, it was also about promoting youth – and that was embodied in the involvement of 12-year-old Jack Richardson.
The youngster was given the opportunity to take part in the relay after setting up charity Book Buddies during the first Covid-19 lockdown – which looks to support children who don’t have access to books.
After creating the charity, it has now distributed 5000 books.
As the 12-year-old completed his leg of the relay, he was all smiles and continued with the positivity all day.
He told The Northern Echo after his relay appearance: “It was brilliant – I can’t stop smiling. I didn’t expect this atmosphere, and it was brilliant to have my family and friends here.
“It’s definitely an occasion that I can tell my children in the future.”
After Durham, the North East’s involvement in the baton relay continued towards Seaham, before ending in Sunderland.
It will then travel to Newcastle, Northumberland, and then make its way towards Cumbria and the North West, before it winds its way to Birmingham in time for the Commonwealth Games on July 28.
Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.
Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here