Dudley attractions gear up to welcome Queen’s Baton Relay

Representatives from the Black Country Living Museum, Dudley Zoo and Castle, the Black Country Run, Merry Hill, and the Red House Glass Cone gathered at the Council House to mark the announcement of their venues as sites for the Commonwealth Games Relay event.

Senior figures from the Queen’s Baton Relay sites were joined by the leader of Dudley Council, Councillor Patrick Harley, and the council’s batonbearer nominee, Sgt Adam Sefton from the B Squadron Royal Yeomanry.

The Queen’s Baton will visit the attractions on the afternoon of Sunday July 24 as part of a series of community activities to celebrate the arrival of the Commonwealth Games in the borough.

Halesowen will be the first area to welcome the Queen’s Baton as part of this year’s Black Country Fun Run, organised by Halesowen and Rowley Regis Rotary Club. The relay will then continue through Mary Stevens Park, Stourbridge, before visiting the Red House Glass Cone at Wordsley.

As the relay heads into Dudley, the Queen’s Baton will travel back in time at the Black Country Living Museum, then take in the grounds of Dudley Zoo and Castle.

The festivities will continue with a civic event at Coronation Gardens, Dudley, then conclude with an evening celebration at The Waterfront, Merry Hill, featuring live entertainment and music.

Councillor Patrick Harley, Dudley Council's leader, said: "These venues will play an important role in delivering the fantastic programme of activities that are going to take place when the Queen’s Baton Relay arrives in Dudley.

"We are working hard to make it a memorable experience for our borough and we are very grateful for their ongoing support."

Carolyn Sankey, co-director of development at Black Country Living Museum, added: "We’re thrilled to be one of the venues in the borough to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay. It will be a wonderful occasion in Black Country history for people to be a part of as the region proudly hosts the Commonwealth Games."

Derek Grove, zoo director at Dudley Zoo and Castle, said it was a "great privilege" for Dudley Zoo and Castle to be included in the official event and he added: "We’re looking forward to joining in with a day of borough celebrations."

Jonathan Poole, centre manager at Merry Hill, said: "We’re delighted to be hosting the finale of the Queen’s Baton Relay for Dudley. It’s an honour to be part of this prestigious regional event and we’ve no doubt the local community will enjoy sharing the celebrations with us at the Waterfront."

Steve Jones, organiser of the Black Country Run and vice-president of Halesowen and Rowley Regis Rotary Club, said it was "extra special" for the popular run to have been chosen to be part of the Queen's Baton relay route and he added: "We hope the people of Halesowen will turn out in force to show their support by entering our event, raising money for charity, having fun and enjoying this unique experience."

For more information on the Commonwealth Games events taking place in Dudley  including the Queen’s Baton Relay and men’s and women’s cycling time trials visit the council's Commonwealth Games hub.