Nursery heroine and tireless charity worker Lisa Potts GM has been unveiled as one of Wolverhampton’s Batonbearers for the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay.
Lisa has been nominated to carry the Baton in recognition of her exceptional bravery and ongoing commitment to children and young people.
Lisa, a former nursery teacher, was proclaimed as a heroine in 1996 when she protected children in her care from a machete-wielding attacker who burst into St Luke’s Primary School, Blakenhall.
Aged just 21 at the time, she suffered severe injuries to her head, back and both arms as she prevented the attacker from reaching the children she was shielding.
Her bravery was acknowledged by Her Majesty the Queen who awarded Lisa the George Medal.
Since the attack, Lisa has done considerable charity work and founded the charity Believe 2 Achieve in 2001 which aims to encourage independence and increase self-esteem in children.
Earlier this year, Lisa became the first Freewoman of the City, an honour bestowed by City of Wolverhampton Council in recognition of all she has done.
Lisa said: “I feel delighted to be asked to be part of the Queen’s Baton Relay. What an honour it is to be part of this historic moment and I am looking forward to being a Batonbearer.”
Councillor Steve Evans, City of Wolverhampton Council’s cabinet member for city environment and climate change, said: “As a city, we are incredibly proud of Lisa; she truly deserves the honour of carrying the Baton.
“The bravery she showed in protecting the young children in her care, while being so young herself, was absolutely astonishing.
“Lisa is such an inspiration and that is what the Commonwealth Games are all about. I would like to encourage our residents to come out and support Lisa and our other incredible Batonbearers as they make their way around the city on July 24.”
The Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay will be coming to Wolverhampton during its final journey through England before the Commonwealth Games.
The Baton will be dramatically parachuted in by helicopter on Sunday, July 24, before inspirational Batonbearers take it on a tour of the city – giving them the chance to highlight stories of how they are striving for change in their community.
The relay will begin at 8am in East Park with a parachute drop by The Wings Parachute Team. It will then be taken on a road relay tour of the city stopping off at a number of key locations including WV Active Aldersley before finishing with celebrations in Queen Square.
For more information visit www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/commonwealth
With photo of Lisa Potts who will be taking part in the Queen’s Baton Relay in Wolverhampton
About the Birmingham 2022 Queen’s Baton Relay
Birmingham 2022 is hosting the 16th official Queen’s Baton Relay – a journey which brings together and celebrates communities in every corner of the Commonwealth ahead of Birmingham 2022.
The Baton has already begun its epic journey across the Commonwealth, where it will have visited Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania, the Caribbean, and the Americas, it will return to England in July 2022 for the final countdown to the Commonwealth Games.
The Queen’s Baton will travel around England for 25 days, before the Relay officially ends at the Opening Ceremony of the Commonwealth Games on 28 July 2022. The Queen’s Baton Relay is a Games tradition that celebrates, connects and excites communities from across Commonwealth during the build up to the Games.
This collective journey will ignite hope, solidarity and collaboration for the next generation, with these stories leaving us all inspired to take on the challenges that matter most to us.
For more information, visit birmingham2022.com/qbr
About the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 28 July until 8 August 2022, will be a once in a lifetime opportunity to put the city, the region, and its people on the global stage.
The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.
Birmingham 2022 will be the Games for everyone, bringing people together from across Birmingham and the region, to provide a warm welcome to millions of visitors during the summer of 2022.
Find out more at www.birmingham2022.com
Oliver Bhurrut
Communications Manager
Tel. Office: 01902 551220
E-mail: Oliver.Bhurrut@wolverhampton.gov.uk
City of Wolverhampton Council
