Here is who will be carrying the Commonwealth Games baton through Kenilworth tomorrow

By James Smith 21st Jul 2022

The 16th Queen's Baton Relay will reach Kenilworth tomorrow morning (July 22) ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games this summer.

Leaving the bottom of High Street at 8am, the baton will be carried to the grounds of Kenilworth Castle before travelling elsewhere in the district.

Warwick District Council has annouced who six of the selected batonbearers are.

Trustee of the Give A Kidney charity Chris Luck will start the relay.

Chris was nominated by his friend Steph whom he donated one of his kidneys to last year.

Chris said: "Steph's a mum and it's just so lovely seeing her little girl knowing she's got both parents around."

Rotarian Iain Wilson will then take the baton from Castle hill to Castle Road

He was nominated by his wife for the amount of fundraising and volunteering he has done for various local and national charities.

His current fundraiser is '100 miles and 100 yards' for Niemann-Pick UK. The 100 miles will be made up of the London to Brighton Challenge, the Great North Run and the New York Marathon - the 100 yards is the baton carrying!

The baton will start its journey in Kenilworth at the bottom of High Street

The baton will be taken from 52 High Street to number 81 by Melanie Barratt, the double Paralympic swimming champion.

Melanie said: "I was nominated by my husband who has supported me through all my endeavours.

"He nominated me for my past achievements (double Paralympic swimming champion) and my current endeavours to make open water swimming more accessible for blind people; I am also training to be the first blind lady to swim the English Channel."

But Melanie will not be the only sports start involved, with world number six squash player Sarah Jane Perry taking a break from training to carry the baton tomorrow.

Sarah-Jane, who won silver at the last games, is aiming to go one further this summer.

Sarah-Jane Perry claimed silver at Gold Coast 2018 after losing to New Zealand's Joelle King in the final

Town and district councillor Cllr John Dearing has also been selected for the relay.

Cllr Dearing said: "Through a career in university education, I've informed and educated many young people about the world about us.  

"Since becoming a local councillor, I've tried to promote local community initiatives around climate change and the environment.  

"It's therefore a great honour to represent Warwick District Council as bearer of the Queen's baton in one of its final relay legs - in my home town."

And finally, local Girlguiding volunteer Julie Atkins will also carry the baton through Kenilworth.

Senior Specialist Occupational Health Practitioner, Julie Atkins is one of the Kenilworth batonbearers (Image via NHS SWFT)

Julie has volunteered with Girlguiding in Warwick for 36 years, latterly as division commissioner for Kenilworth and Warwick, supporting the local leaders and young members.

"In my role I am a mentor to new leaders in Warwick and Kenilworth as they begin their volunteering journey helping them to gain their leadership qualifications for guiding," she said.

More details of the route and road closures can be found here.

     

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