Plymouth gets ready to welcome Queen’s Baton Relay

29th June 2022

A flotilla of vessels is set to escort the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay, as it crosses Plymouth Sound National Marine Park and arrives in Britain’s Ocean City, as part of a 25-day journey which will see it travel the length and breadth of England.

On Monday 4 July, it’s hoped a fleet of craft, including sailing boats and paddle boards, will take to the water as a show of support as the Baton sets sail from Mount Batten. It’s due to cross the National Marine Park – the UK’s first - on board Plymouth Boat Trips’ e-Voyager. Fittingly for the eco nature of the park, the craft is the UK’s first zero carbon, seagoing electric ferry, providing the Baton with a greener mode of transport.

After passing the historic Pier Masters House, the Baton will arrive on shore at the Barbican Landing Stage where it will be met by the Lord Mayor of Plymouth and other city leaders for a civic welcome at the Mayflower Steps, before its journey around the city.

There will be plenty of opportunity to see the Baton as it journeys through the city between 9am and 10am. Inspirational local heroes have been nominated as Batonbearers and will take it in turns to carry it around the city centre.

The Batonbearers have been chosen because of the positive impact they have made to their local communities: fundraising, volunteering and helping others, despite sometimes facing their own hardships and struggles. They include:  

• Matthew Dixon – rising British diving star who is competing at this year’s Commonwealth Games
• Mark Ormrod MBE – former Royal Marine and triple amputee
• Toby Gorniak MBE – Creative Director of Street Factory
• Lara Cook – dance and drama teacher and fundraiser
• Chaz Singh – Plymouth councillor
• Chris Gilchrist – Rhythm City dance founder
• Abigail Daly – swimming mentor
• Sarah Pearson – ex GB Paratriathlete
• David Carney-Haworth – retired police officer and charity founder
• Jade Kingdom – Triathlon fundraiser
• Rebecca Attewell – volunteer at Newquay Surf Lifesaving club

After leaving the Barbican the Baton will head up onto the Hoe then along Armada Way to the Piazza where it will be greeted by takio drumming, puppet performances and dancing courtesy of Barbican Theatre and Exim Dance Company.

It will then make its way around the city centre, finally arriving to an enthusiastic welcome by local schoolchildren at Tavistock Square, outside The Box, before leaving Plymouth for the next leg of its journey to Exeter.

Councillor Pat Patel, Cabinet Member for Customer Services, Culture, Leisure and Sport said: “In this special Platinum Jubilee year I’d encourage everyone to come along and see the spectacle of the Queen’s Relay Baton arrive for the first time across our wonderful Plymouth Sound National Marine Park. It’s an honour for us to be able to show what Britain’s Ocean City has to offer, and to cheer on and share the stories of our local heroes, our Batonbearers, in the true spirt of the event - hope, solidarity, collaboration and inspiration.”  

The Baton started its epic trip on 7 October 2021 at Buckingham Palace in London, where Her Majesty The Queen placed her message to the Commonwealth inside. By the end of its 294-day Relay it will have visited 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games which begin on the 28 July 2022.

As well as containing The Queen’s Message, the Baton – which has been made from copper, aluminium and brass - has a 360-degree camera, LED lights, sensors that monitor environmental conditions and a platinum stand reflecting the Platinum Jubilee.

The schedule for the Queen's Baton Relay in Plymouth

• 9am The Baton sets sail from Mount Batten and crosses the Plymouth Sound National Marine Park
• 9:20am A civic welcome at the Mayflower Steps, in a nod to 4 July and Plymouth’s American connections, with the Lord Mayor of Plymouth and other city leaders
• 9:30am Passing the Plymouth Naval Memorial on Plymouth Hoe, which is dedicated to British and Commonwealth sailors who were lost in the First and Second World Wars with no known grave
• 9:40am A cultural community welcome in the city centre courtesy of Barbican Theatre and Exim Dance group where there will be taiko drumming, puppet performances and dancing on the Piazza.
• 9:55am A greeting from local schoolchildren as it arrives at The Box, after which it leaves Plymouth to travel to its next destination.

About the Batonbearers

Mark Ormrod MBE

A former Royal Marine, triple amputee and Invictus Games medal winner. As well as raising awareness of the many issues faced by those with disabilities, Mark regularly raises money for charity by challenging himself to do things most able-bodied people would struggle to achieve.

Matthew Dixon

Rising British Diving star Matthew Dixon from Plymouth, took the title on the 10m platform at the British Diving Championships in front of a home crowd in 2020, earning his election for the FINA Diving World Cup 2021 in Japan where he placed 6th. He finished 9th in the 10m platform at the Commonwealth Games in 2014 at the age of just 14, and went on to win two silver medals in the 2018 games in both the 10m platform and 10m synchro. He will again be representing England at this year’s games in Birmingham.

Toby Gorniak MBE

Former refugee and hip-hop dancer Toby Gorniak MBE was just 14 years old and unable to speak English when he fled racism and arrived here. Since then, he has been praised for giving hope and support to many - using dance to reach out and help members of the community.

Lara Cook

Dance and drama teacher Lara Cook has been praised for going above and beyond to help her pupils and others. As well as supporting her students who are suffering from anxiety and depression, during lockdown she raised hundreds of pounds for a local theatre, with an online dance festival.

Councillor Chaz Singh

Councillor Chaz Singh was chosen to carry the Baton in recognition of his achievements in his community over the past 20 years. He was praised for his work in helping and supporting people to fulfil their passion and ambition and for helping those in need.

Chris Gilchrist

Award-winning teacher Chris Gilchrist started his own dance company, Rhythm City, in Stonehouse in 2007 in a bid to encourage young people to get off the streets. He’s been praised for making a massive contribution to improving their lives and for the work he does and the difference he makes in his community.

Abigail Daly

Despite having a learning disability and autism, Abigail Daly worked hard to learn to swim and has been called an inspiration for her work in helping others, giving them confidence to take part in swimming events. She trains with the Devonport Royal Swimming Association 6 days a week. 

Sarah Pearson

Ex GB Para triathlete Sarah Pearson, from Kingsbridge, spent 11years as a volunteer lifesaving coach. She has been a supporter of the Artic One charity, which inspires and supports other athletes with disabilities and has also taken on sporting challenges to raise money for the Tall Ships Youth Trust. Sarah has also worked with the Local Heroes charity a Devon and Cornwall Police initiative to raise awareness of diversity and inclusion, and to reduce hate crime. She’s also been involved with veterans and local wellbeing charities. Her charities include: Tall Ships Youth Trust, Arctic One, Surf Life Saving GB, RBLI, Royal Marines Charitable Trust, Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund, Support our Paras, The Disabilities Trust - brain injury services, South Hams Area Wellbeing and Devon and Cornwall Police Local Heroes initiative.

David Carney-Haworth OBE

Retired police officer, David Carney-Haworth OBE, from Downderry in Cornwall left the police after 30 years’ service. Together with his wife he co-created two charities Operation Encompass and Silver Stories. He received his OBE in 2019 for his work in supporting children experiencing domestic abuse and received the Prime Minister’s Point of Light award in 2020.

Jade Kingdom

Triathlon fundraiser, Jade Kingdom, from Barnstaple, has Down Syndrome but won’t let anything limit her potential. She trained for 8 months and raised nearly £20,000 for the North Devon Hospice by competing in the London Triathlon in 2021. She’s raced the 500ft Lynton Cliff Railway – from the bottom to the top - for charity, and is planning to take part in the marathon Swim Serpentine in September this year.

Rebecca Attewell

Rebecca Attewell is a volunteer at Newquay Surf Lifesaving Club both on Fistral beach and at poolside training. She also helps out at Newquay Hornets RFC and last year, along with her son, helped with and raised money for her local community and the NHS during lockdown.