Kids get creative as they prepare to welcome Commonwealth Baton

Pupils at Ben Wyvis with bunting
Pupils from Ben Wyvis Primary school take a break from their bunting making workshop to show off some of the bunting already made by participating schools to provide a colourful Highland welcome. They are joined by Dingwall and Seaforth Councillors Angela Maclean and Margaret Paterson (far right) with local artist and storyteller Lizzie McDougall (far left)

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Primary school children in 10 local primary school are busy creating a colourful Highland welcome for the Commonwealth Games Queen’s Baton relay celebrations which will take place in Dingwall Jubilee Park on Friday 11 July.

The Highland Council’s Dingwall and Seaforth and Black Isle Councillors have enlisted the help of a local artist and story teller Lizzie McDougall to engage with local children ahead of the Queens Baton Relay’s arrival in Highland. 

By the time it comes to Dingwall the Baton will have travelled 190,000 kms around the world visiting all 70 countries and territories that are sending teams to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this July. 

Councillor Graham Mackenzie said:  “Lizzie has done a great job in inspiring the children with tales of the batons extraordinary journey around the globe. They have been busy decorated bunting in the Commonwealth Games colours with Highland themes so their handiwork will add colour and festivity and a unique highland flavour to the activities planned to welcome the Baton to the Jubilee Park.”

Councillor Angela MacLean who joined the Ben Wyvis pupils at their bunting making workshop said:  “The pupils are doing a great job and producing lots of colourful props that will help to set the scene and make the Dingwall based celebrations a great success. I’m very impressed how creative they all are. Thanks go to them, all the staff in the schools taking part and Lizzie for her hard work.”

Lizzie who has been working with pupils from Strathpeffer, Cullicudden, St Clements in Dingwall, Resolis, Mulbuie, Ferintosh, Tarradale, Avoch, Tore and Ben Wyvis schools said:  “The children are really getting excited and helping to make sure with give the Baton a big Highland welcome.”

The Dingwall and Seaforth Councillors have also been busy encouraging local businesses to get involved by adopting a country and creating a special commonwealth themed window display.

Speaking as she also took part in the bunting making workshop at Ben Wyvis Primary, Councillor Margaret Paterson said: “It is a great honour for Dingwall to host the evening community event on Friday 11 July to celebrate the Baton’s journey through the Highlands and we’re delighted that so many local shops and businesses are keen to enter into the festival atmosphere we are aiming to create.  The High Street is set to be transformed into a colourful and cultural celebration of the Commonwealth which we know visitors to the town will enjoy.”

The free event in Jubilee Park starts at 5pm and ends at 7pm after the Baton arrives on stage.  The entertainment opens with a spectacular pop-up performance by the Commonwealth Youth Circus featuring unusual and amazing human skills including stilt-acro, aerial, acrobatics and parkour. Feis Rois musicians and singers will be joined by African drummers and a pipe band as the event comes to a climax with the arrival of the relay Baton.  The Baton will have travelled that day from John O’ Groats and carried through Wick, Brora, Golspie, Tain and Alness by a team of Baton bearers before it is taken on a route around the town and on to the stage at Jubilee Park.

Councillor Alister Mackinnon added: “We’re expect visitors and people from across the whole Highlands to come to the evening celebration so if any shops or local businesses want to get involved in making it a day to remember, all they need to do is get in touch.”

ENDS

16 Jun 2014