The Severn Valley Railway welcomed the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay to its Kidderminster station on Saturday morning, 23 July. Baton bearer Jess Benyon from Stourport carried the Baton inside the station building and through a guard of honour, made up of many of the SVR’s volunteers.
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Jess is the West Midlands regional coordinator for the Dwarf Sports Association UK, and organises sports activities for people with dwarfism, including swimming, multi-sports and outdoor adventure activities. She said:
“It was amazing to carry the Baton on the special Severn Valley Railway train, and I’m so proud to have been chosen for this role.”
The Baton contains The Queen’s Message to the Commonwealth, which was placed inside it in October last year. It’s travelled around the world, visiting all 72 nations and territories of the Commonwealth, and is on the last few days of its journey before arriving in Birmingham for the Opening Ceremony of the Games on 28th July.
As the special Baton Relay train, hauled by the SVR’s purple-liveried locomotive, No.70 ‘Elizabeth II’, made its way along the 16-mile line to Bridgnorth, it slowed to walking pace as it passed each intermediate station. The platforms were crowded with spectators, who’d come to witness this historic occasion.
“The atmosphere across the whole railway has been joyous,” said the SVR’s managing director Helen Smith. “It has been a pleasure to welcome hundreds and hundreds of people here today, and to have played our part in this wonderful community event. And what a fantastic opportunity it’s been for our stunning purple locomotive to shine once again, alongside the Batonbearers who carried out their duties so well.”
The event heralded the start of the railway’s summer holiday season, which is appropriately taking its theme from the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, as it hosts a Summer of Sport. As well as a trip on a heritage train, visitors can take part in a host of fun sports and team activities at The Engine House, Highley alongside the SVR’s summer crew.
