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Amgueddfa Cymru – Museum Wales
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Baton and stand
Hollow tubular baton, decorated in the middle with enamelled dragon in red surrounded by relief worked decoration of two leeks and a crown, also engraved decoration of daffodils and leeks forming a chain motif. Each end of the baton has a crown in relief surrounded by engraved chain motif. Inscribed VI BRITISH EMPIRE & COMMONWEALTH GAMES, WALES 1958, the baton was used to carry the Queen's message. (See file.)
Hardwood stand, with two silver gilt rests, and a rectangular plaque bearing the inscription This message was carried by a relay of runners from Buckingham Palace to Cardiff Arms Park July 14th to 18th 1958
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This is the original baton used during the opening ceremony for the British Empire and Commonwealth Games, held in Cardiff in 1958. The baton contained a message from Queen Elizabeth II wishing the athletes a successful competition and was carried from Buckingham Palace to Cardiff Arms Park by a relay of runners before the Games began. At the opening ceremony it was presented to Prince Philip by the rugby player, Ken Jones, who ran the final leg.