Leighton-Linslade Marathon for Peace runners will mark VJ Day’s 75th anniversary

The Rotary Club of Leighton-Linslade has, within current government guidelines, been able to join with partners to pull together an informal Rotary Community Corps to recognise the end of World War Two.

On August 15 there will be a Marathon Relay which will visit most areas of Leighton-Linslade and Heath and Reach, with the runners or walkers carrying a scroll containing the names of those from the area who made the ultimate sacrifice.

The relay will leave a town centre location in Leighton Buzzard, after the playing of the Last Post at 11am, and will finish at the war memorial at 8pm with their names being read and the playing of Sunset at 8.08pm.

Simon Marshall, president of Leighton-Linslade Rotary Club, said: “We are delighted that, after significant consultation, we have been able to work with partners to deliver a ‘Marathon for Peace’.

“So many local lives will have been touched when the 5th Battalion Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment were taken prisoner at Singapore in 1942 that VJ Day has a special resonance in our 
area.”

MP for South West Bedfordshire, Andrew Selous, and the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire Sue Lousada DL have agreed to join the Town Mayor Cllr David Bowater and Mr Marshall in walking the first two legs, while Daniel Bingley, a multi medalist from the Invictus Games, will carry the baton from Tesco to the War Memorial at the end of the event.

Each relay leg will be 2,194 yards, acknowledging across time the 2,194 days that World War Two lasted.

Opportunities to donate to Rotary and its local partner charities will be available via virginmoneygiving.com and the support vehicle accompanying the runners.

It is also hoped that key points, including the town centre, will have a presence all day to raise awareness and help facilitate donations, which will all be going to charities operating in Leighton Linslade.

Members of the public can come to their doors to wave at the participants, whilst observing social distancing guidlelines.

Participants will include, in no particular order: Rotary, SSAFA, Dogs for Good, ATC, Friends Within (Mencap), Navel Cadet Corps Yes We Can, Scouts, Guides, MK Dons SET, Town Mayors, Charities, LB Hockey, MS Society, OMM.

Route 1: 11am-1pm: Leighton Buzzard High Street, Bassett Road, Queen Street, King Street, Heath Road, Clarence Road, Garden Hedge, Beaudesert, South Street, Stanbridge Road, Lake Satreet, Morrisons car park, Grovebury Road, Grovebury Road Retail Park, Grovebury Road, Bellona Drive, Vesta Grove, Fortuna Mead, Bacchus Gardens, Apollo Croft, Theedway, Copia Crescent, Feronia Mead, Veritas Grove, and Theedway.

Route 2: 1pm-2.45pm: Kestrel Way, Fieldfare, Serin Mead, Hawfinch Grove, Dunnock Drive, Condor Drive, Goshawk Green, Dunnock Drive, Fieldfare, Kestrel Way, Johnson Drive, Lathwell Way, Goodman Drive, Ridgely Drive, Elliot Way, Cooper Drive, Turnham Drive, Kingfisher Drive, Sandpiper Way, Cormorant Way, Johnson Drive, Linnet Way, Grebe Drive, Raven Way, Osprey Drive, Johnson Drive, cutting across Astral Park to Moorhouse Way, Gibson Drive, Roundel Drive, Nicolson Drive, Cheshire Rise, Swales Drive, Roundel Drive, Leighton Road, Stanbridge Road, Lywood Road, Richmond Road, Weston Avenue, Lywood Road.

Route 3: 2.45pm - 4.30pm: Stanbridge Road, Harrow Road, South Street, Brooklands Drive, Highfield Road, Russell Way, Clipstone Crescent, Hockliffe Road, Meadow Way, Appenine Way, Hockliffe Road, Vandyke Road, Atterbury Avenue, Middle Green.

Route 4: 4.30pm-6pm: Willow Bank Walk, Meadway, Vandyke Road, Clarence Road, Heath Road, Leighton Road, Bird’s Hill, Linslade Road, Plantation Road, Church Street, North Street, West Street, Leighton Road, Vimy Road.

Route 5: 6pm-8pm: Stoke Road, Golden Riddy, Rosebery Avenue, Wing Road, Mentmore Road, Cedar’s Way, Bunkers Lane, Himley Green, Derwent Road, Bideford Green, Soulbury Road, Springfield Road, Southcourt Avenue, Waterloo Road, Victoria Road, Wing Road, Leighton Buzzard War Memorial.