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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.
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.