Ship's warm greeting for Commonwealth Games baton
Queen's Baton Relay visits remote British Dependency
The official symbol of the 2006 Commonwealth Games - The Melbourne 2006 Queen's Baton - was welcomed on board the Royal Mail Ship St Helena in May as the RMS departed Walvis Bay in Namibia for the remote South Atlantic island of St Helena.
The baton was relayed by seven members of the ship's company to the bridge and handed to the Captain and His Excellency Governor Clancy. This leg of the trip is part of the round the world journey from London to Melbourne, Australia.
The baton spent several days on board before being officially received on the remote British Dependency of St Helena in the South Atlantic. The baton will tour the small community on the island visiting schools and hospitals and will be the trigger for a week of sports and games. The baton's arrival at St Helena will mark its 19th visit of the 71-nation tour of the Commonwealth covering some 180,000 kms.
At the end of the week the baton returned on the RMS St Helena en route to Mauritius with its final port of call in Melbourne for the 18th edition of the Commonwealth Games in March next year.
For further information please contact
Jackie Noble on 01275 856686 or email Jackie@barneys.co.uk
For Press Editors:
The Queen's Baton Relay
The Melbourne 2006 Queen's Baton Relay was launched at Buckingham Palace on 14 March, when Queen Elizabeth II handed over the baton for the first relay runner.
The baton's elegant curved form takes its inspiration from the physical form of athletes arching forward as they strive for success. The 71 lights on the front indicate the 71 nations of the Commonwealth to be visited on its journey to the Games. These progressively light up as the baton arrives in each Commonwealth country.
RMS St Helena
The RMS St Helena is operated and managed by Andrew Weir Shipping Limited and is the lifeline to the island bringing essential supplies and mail, as St Helena is one of the few remaining islands worldwide without an airport.