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Register nowEast Lothian played host for the fourth day of the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton Relay. From the moment the sun rose over East Lothian, the community got into the spirit of the Games as the baton travelled through the local area visiting towns including Prestonpans, Tranent, Gullane, Dunbar and Haddington.
The council area to the east of Edinburgh produced a memorable day as hundreds of children taking part in the Primary Games at Meadowmill Sports Centre lined the streets to cheer the batonbearers.
In North Berwick the relay took in the sights of the majestic eastern coastline as the giant Bass Rock loomed in the background, before coming full circle into Musselburgh for an evening celebration at The Brunton.
The world’s most engaging relay was tinged with sadness as Kai Wood, 16, carried the baton in Tranent as a stand-in for her brother Kyle, 14, who tragically passed away in April this year of a suspected seizure. Kai was a member of the Lothian Leopards disability athletics team and had been selected as batonbearer. Kai, stepped up to carry the baton in her brother’s stead as spectators, friends and family turned out in T-shirts emblazoned with Kyle’s face.
Another batonbearer of the day was Ken Reid, an inspirational individual who in the quarter of a century since going completely blind, has held down a mainstream job, volunteered, completed triathlons, run, cycled and rowed off-shore. He’s chaired the East Lothian Access Panel and the Royal National Institute for the Blind Scotland, and climbed munros and corbetts.
Over 100 batonbearers ran today and each had their own story of perseverance and compassion that made the day in East Lothian special. Yet any round-up of the day’s action would be remiss if didn’t include the contribution of the crowds, who were fantastic. It was a party atmosphere the whole day as the police escort did a conga; a pipe band piped the relay down Prestonpans High Street and locals cheered on the runners at every point.
| 08:40 | Musselburgh |
| 10:00 | Prestonpans |
| 10:40 | Cockenzie & Port Seton |
| 11:00 | Meadowmill Sports Centre |
| 11.35 | Tranent |
| 12.30 | Longniddry |
| 12.50 | Aberlady |
| 13.10 | Gullane |
| 14:25 | Dirleton |
| 14:55 | North Berwick |
| 16:45 | Dunbar |
| 17:30 | Haddington |
| 18:10 | Musselburgh |
Over the last 10 years Jamie has raised over £40,000 for various charities, including over £10,000 for Cancer Research by competing in a gruelling ultra-marathon through the Gobi Desert. More recently, he completed 10 marathons in 10 days to raise awareness of children's epilepsy for the Muir Maxwell trust.
Over five decades Barry has made outstanding positive contributions to athletics, helping to pull out the best abilities from his athletes. He has also been the official starter at many local, national and international athletic competitions including the 2012 Paralympic Trials, Scottish Championships, national leagues and x-country events.
A recent brain haemorrhage could not slow pro-active member of the community Fiona down or stop her from giving even more back to the local people. She not only coaches secondary school boy’s hockey twice a week but travels all over Scotland with them for games. She is also musical director of an intergenerational choir whose ages range from six to 86. She directs and rehearses every weekend, and takes this choir into the community to deserving groups, all free of charge.
Not many wealthy celebrities can compete with the amount Sally-Anne has raised for charity.
Ken may have been blind for over a quarter of a century, but he has truly risen above and beyond in order to deliver a better quality of life not only for himself but for many others too. He has held down a mainstream job for 22 years, he represents blind people in several voluntary roles, and chairs the East Lothian access panel, chairs the Royal National Institute for the Blind Scotland and holds several other positions.
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