Today marked the arrival of the Queen’s Baton in Orkney. After arriving on the ferry, it made its way to the school where a number of activities were laid on. It was far from the formal affair one would have expected. Many of the vehicles of the entourage arrived prior to the runner with the baton along with quite a number of police, no doubt drafted in from the mainland. Security was probably very tight, but it was actually fairly unobtrusive. TV cameras and photographers were also present.

 

 

The Baton arrived, carried by one of our senior pupils and a ‘guard of honour’ of a small group of pupils (it is our school hols) stood at the school entrance to welcome him into the school and on into the games hall where Bill Spence, Lord Lieutenant of Orkney, gave a short speech. Stromness Primary School Pupils sang the Commonwealth Games song and then did a dance performance. The baton was photographed many times. It was here for about forty minutes before it was quietly slipped out of the hall on to one of the entourage vehicles for its next appearance in Dounby. It was I believe a once in a lifetime opportunity to see this and I am one School Librarian who was rather glad to be still in work during the early part of our school holidays when the Commonwealth Games Baton paid the school a visit.