The arrival of the Queen’s Baton Relay in Wales has brought memories flooding back for the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner.
Winston Roddick CB QC was chosen to carry the baton for the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games on its journey to the stadium in Cardiff.
He recalled the silver-gilt and enamel baton was decorated with a red dragon, daffodils and leeks, along with crowns representing its royal connection.
A total of 664 athletes, including 32 schoolboys, were involved in the relay, which covered more than 600 miles over almost four days.
The run continued day and night, seniors being used in dense traffic conditions and, where possible from midnight to 6am.
In North Wales the message passed through Llangollen, Wrexham, Flint, Llandudno and Caernarfon before heading south.
Following a trumpet fanfare and six-gun salute, the final leg runner entered the Arms Park stadium to complete the relay.
The athlete’s identity was a closely guarded secret and rapturous applause rang out from the 40,000 spectators when he was revealed as former Wales rugby player and Olympic silver sprint relay medallist Ken Jones.
It was a “great honour” for Mr Roddick, then a sixth form pupil of Sir Hugh Owen Grammar School in Caernarfon.
After training and working as a police constable in Liverpool, Mr Roddick studied law at University College London from which he graduated as a Master of Laws.
Mr Roddick went on to carve out an illustrious career as a barrister, taking ‘silk’ as a Queen’s Counsel in 1986 and later becoming the Leader of the Wales and Chester Circuit, a Recorder of the Crown Court and the first Honorary Recorder of Caernarfon.
In 1986, as a member of the first Welsh Language Board, he was responsible for drafting of the report which lead to the passing of the Welsh Language Act of that year. He was appointed as the first Counsel General of Wales in 1998, the most senior legal adviser to the Welsh Assembly
According to Mr Roddick, carrying the baton in 1958 is a vivid memory still.
He said: “There has been much in the news about the carrying of the Queen’s baton through Wales on its journey to Scotland for the opening of the Commonwealth Games there later this year.
“It was at Cardiff on the occasion of the British Empire and Commonwealth Games – as it was then called – that it was announced that Prince Charles would become Prince of Wales and would be invested as such at Caernarfon castle.
“That was the message which was carried in the Queen’s baton to the opening ceremony of the games.
“The baton began its journey at Buckingham palace but the Welsh leg began in north Wales. I carried it out of Caernarfon on its next leg of the journey.
“I was in the sixth form of Ysgol Syr Huw Owen, Caernarfon at the time. I was chosen because I was the best ‘miler’ at the school.
“I received a letter and a certificate from the organisers of the Games acknowledging my contribution. I am unable to find them. They are probably somewhere in the family home at Caernarfon.”
