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| Monday, 17 June, 2002, 10:26 GMT 11:26 UK Queen's baton comes to England Sir Geoff Hurst and his classroom helpers The Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay comes to England on Monday - led by football legend Sir Geoff Hurst. The hat trick-scoring hero of England's 1966 World Cup victory carries the baton through Gloucestershire as the relay crosses the border from Wales. The baton began its journey to the Commonwealth Games back in March. It has toured 23 Commonwealth countries and, for the next 38 days, will visit cities, towns and villages across England.
In 50 days, it will have been carried by 5,000 runners through 500 towns and cities in the UK. On Monday, the two-foot tall baton - which pulses in time with the runner's heartbeat - arrives from Newport. Sir Geoff will receive it and then hand it over to Francis Done, the chief executive of the Manchester Commonwealth Games. It will pass through Gloucestershire - visiting Cheltenham and Cirencester - and on to Swindon, Bath and Keynsham, arriving in Bristol on Monday night. Sir Geoff, who was born outside Manchester, said the games would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "We don't often have these massive sporting events in our country, on our own doorstep," he said. "For many people, the Queen's Jubilee Baton Relay is their chance to be part of the Commonwealth Games and support their local and national athletes," he said. He is the latest in a long line of sporting heroes - including Sir Bobby Charlton, George Best, Denise Lewis, Sir Roger Bannister, Seb Coe and Steve Cram - who have carried the baton. It will end up at the opening ceremony of the XVII Commonwealth Games on 25 July. The message inside will be read by the Queen at the opening ceremony. | See also: 17 Jun 02 | Wales 14 Jun 02 | Wales 10 Jun 02 | Scotland 11 Mar 02 | UK 11 Mar 02 | UK 26 Nov 01 | UK Internet links: The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top England stories now: Links to more England stories are at the foot of the page. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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