Julia was jointly nominated by Dollar Academy and the St Francis Small Home in Malindi, Kenya. She will retire this summer after 37 years of nurturing the academic, social and emotional development of countless children, bringing warmth, common sense, intelligence and enthusiasm to all. She has promoted inclusion and compassion for others, at school and through the Malindi Project, raising the massive sum of £67,000 for the charity and encouraging valuable teacher exchanges.
Britain’s smallest historic county, Clackmannanshire, or “The Wee County” as it is locally known, today received its chance to hold the Queen’s Baton Relay as it continues on its tour of Scotland’s town and cities in the countdown to the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
The Queen’s Baton Relay ventured all across Clackmannanshire’s 61 square miles, visiting several communities including Alloa, Sauchie, Dollar, Alva, Fishcross and Tullibody. The day was filled with historic sites, with stops at Clackmannan Tower, Menstrie Castle and Castle Campbell in Dollar, where the baton travelled via quad bike.
The royal message crossed into the Wee County shortly before 9am, where it was greeted by pupils from Clackmannan Primary who hosted a Commonwealth art exhibition and street party.In Alva, a Commonwealth Village was set up in Cochrane Park involving toddlers, Guides, Scouts, churches and Ochil Landscape Partnership. Revellers enjoyed a Samba band, dancers, songs and Taste of the Commonwealth stalls
Despite its small size Clackmannanshire has always been a hot bed for youth sport development and this was reflected in the day’s batonbearers. Morna Campbell is one such talent. In an extremely short space of time Morna has achieved 18th at kayaking and eighth at canoe in GB rankings. She spends lunchtimes working in the library in order to support younger pupils as well as running lunchtime dodgeball tournaments.
Following on from Morna was 19 year old Sammi Tasker. Sammi is the only female in Britain to feature in National Championships across three disciplines of motorcycle racing: moto-x, mini motos & road. For other female riders she is a role model and mentor, and she actively encourages girls into racing, coaching and helping them in her own time. By completing parachute jumps in support of MacMillan Cancer Research, she has helped to raise over £250,000 with Brest Way Round.
The final baton-bearer, Team Scotland wheelchair-racer Meggan Dawson-Farrell, brought the baton into the grounds of Lornshill Academy, Alloa and venue for the evening celebration which featured bands, dance groups and activities around the athletics track.