Fifers are being encouraged to turn out in large numbers on Thursday to mark the Queen’s Baton Relay through Fife.
The appeal has been made by Emma Broadhurst, Fife Council’s Physical Activity and Legacy Manager, who is looking forward to welcoming the baton to Fife and showcasing lots of sports and activities that are available in the area.
She said: “We’ve got a great day planned to celebrate the baton coming to Fife and there has already been a really great reaction to it arriving in Scotland.
“Some areas have seen big crowds come out to welcome the baton. But some other parts of the country have seen sparser numbers on some parts of the route. It would be great if Fife’s streets could be busy all the way.”
In a presentation to Fife Council’s North East Area Committee, Ms Broadhurst said the baton will take in Knockhill Racing Circuit, Dunfermline Abbey and travel by RNLI lifeboat between Kinghorn and Kirkcaldy. Later in the day it will visit Falkland Palace and the East Neuk before finishing in St Andrews for a carnival-themed parade.
The baton will visit Dunfermline, Inverkeithing, Dalgety Bay, Aberdour, Burntisland, Kinghorn, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes, Leven, Falkland, Freuchie, Cupar, Pittenweem, Anstruther, Cellardyke and St Andrews.
She said that pupils at Bell Baxter High School in Cupar would probably be getting out of class early to see the baton as it arrived in town. She said particularly large crowds were expected in the Anstruther area.
Fife Council’s Active Fife team is also calling on Fifers to get involved in a free evening celebration event in St Andrews. From 5.15pm to 7.30pm a carnival-themed parade will lead the way where there will be live music, a samba band, choirs and of course the baton itself.
At the party an attempt will be made to break the world record for the World’s Biggest Ceilidh. Anyone can come along to the celebration, just turn up on the night. All people need to do to take part in the ceilidh is collect a wrist band in advance from St Andrews library, tourist information centre or local office.
Whilst the Olympic Torch relay had tight security in 2012, she said the Commonwealth baton relay would be more relaxed with more photographic opportunities.
Tay Bridgehead Fife councillor Maggie Taylor said she was “really excited” by the baton. But she expressed disappointment that more wasn’t being done in Tayport when it heads over to Dundee at 7.30am on Friday. She said: “It’s disappointing that St Andrews is seen as the end of Fife. Ok, so the provost is going to wave it off by boat to Broughty Ferry, but kids are not even being allowed to run with the car in Tayport.”
Taybridgehead councillor Bill Connorsaid a juggler, piper and brass band had been organised for Tayport on Friday morning.
Provost of Fife Jim Leishman said: “We are set for a great day of celebration in Fife and I urge people to come along and take part in this wonderful opportunity.”
See here for a full list of baton timings.