A Highland town is expecting 6,000 people to turn up at an event to welcome the Queen’s Baton Relay tonight.
The baton will spend today in Caithness, Sutherland and Ross-shire as it makes its way to Dingwall for the big evening celebrations at Jubilee Park, which will kick off at 6.45pm.
The headline act will be the Commonwealth Circus group. Other entertainment will come from Dingwall British Legion Pipe Band and music and song will come from Feis Rois and Eilidh MacKenzie, who will perform the Commonwealth song in both English and Gaelic.
There will be 15 officers in the street and at the event to handle the crowds, as well as 10 volunteer marshals for the event, and 24 stewards at the park-and-ride.
Today, the procession starts off in John O’Groats just after 9am and passes through Wick and Helmsdale before reaching Brora Rangers Football Club for a community event at 1.30pm. It will then move on to Golspie, where the Sutherland schools pipe band will play, and then enter Tain high street at about 4.20pm.
Alness will welcome the procession before it heads for Dingwall, where the baton is expected to arrive in the town’s High Street at 6.15pm, 30 minutes before the start of the evening event.
Councillor Margaret Paterson, Dingwall and Seaforth, said: “It is a tremendous opportunity because it is a once in a lifetime chance to see the baton going around Scotland and the youth are involved and they are all excited about it. There is a real buzz about the place just now.”
Inspector Ian Graham, Dingwall police, said: “The event here should be really good. Every community throughout the the Highlands which we have visited has been very welcoming to the baton relay.
“We are anticipating a crowd of 6,000 people for the event.”
Celebrations have already been in full flow in the town in the run up to tonight’s event, with more than 40 establishments in Dingwall High Street displaying a variety of commonwealth flags and associated displays in their window fronts.
Middleton, Ross & Arnot solicitors and estate agents in the High Street have a Rwanda themed display next to their property listings.
It comprises the national flag, as well as some traditional dressware and a traditional peace basket, which is a symbol of escorting one another along a path.
The clothing and objects come from her friends, Frances and Andy Nixseaman, who were in the East African country last year doing voluntary work.
Shirley Sargent, office manager, said: “I have tried to make the display quite educational as well, to talk a bit about Rwanda and their culture.
“And I am looking forward to the main event. It is a bit like when the Olympic torch came up to Inverness, it’s very important.”