The Laings Journal
On its final homecoming to Scotland, the head of Scotland’s oldest family jeweller, Michael Laing OBE was selected as the first runner in Edinburgh City Centre to carry the Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton on Saturday 14th June. The Glasgow 2014 Queen’s Baton relay carries the Queen’s signed and secret personal message to the Commonwealth to only be opened and read at the official opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games on 23rd July.
As an official baton-bearer, Michael Laing had the honour of carrying the baton in Edinburgh. A particularly symbolic run for the jeweller, Michael designed the Queen’s Baton in 1986 where it began its journey at Buckingham Palace before being handed to Steve Cram accompanied by champion hurdlers Australian Debbie Flintoff and England’s David Heremy in Edinburgh. Michael Laing OBE, Chairman of Laing Edinburgh, commented: “It’s a huge honour and privilege to be a baton-bearer for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, this milestone event brought back special memories from the 1986 games. “It was wonderful to design the 1986 baton and quite a challenging brief from a design perspective.
The baton design had to symbolise Scotland’s culture, history and the importance of craft yet it needed to be robust enough to be carried by 3000 official baton-bearers on its journey from Buckingham Palace to Edinburgh. It also had to protect the contents on its journey until it reached the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip who needed to open it with great ease with over 10 million people watching live. “We tackled the design practicalities with a unique spring feature styled on a light bulb-style bayonet within the baton. A silver grooved grip was applied as a natural handle, which presented a lovely contrast against the polished sterling silver. “The design itself was indigenously Scottish with a beautiful jasper gemstone, which I found in the Campsie Hills with the help of National Museums Scotland.
The jasper is a semi-precious stone with a palette of gold, rusts, reds and yellows reflecting a Scottish heather hillside in autumn. Positioned at the top of the baton, it symbolises a burning flame.” Michael Laing continued: “I love the new baton design. I was delighted to learn that some aspects of design from the 1986 baton was used as inspiration in the 2014 design, which incorporates special granite sourced from the Ailsa Craig in the Firth of Clyde. It not only looks stunning but is a fine example of design, innovation and true Scottish enterprise. “This really is an exciting occasion and we wish all the Commonwealth athletes the best of luck in the Games.”
The Queen's Baton Relay began last October and has now travelled through 70 nations and territories of the Commonwealth. It route has taken in Wales, England and now Scotland, the 70th country, where it is being carried by up to 4,000 baton bearers over 40 days.The 1986 Queen’s Baton is on permanent display in the Scottish Sports Hall of Fame at the National Museum of Scotland.