♦ 32 Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, July 15th, 2004 www.clitheroetoday.co.uk Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) One day, our prince did come.. by Faiza Afzaal


HUNDREDS of Royal fans lined the streets of Clitheroe for a glimpse of His Royal Highness The Duke of York during his two-hour visit to Clitheroe Royal Grammar School in celebration of its 450th anniversary. Despite the cold and wet weather,


as the time for Prince Andrew’s arrival approached at 10-45 a.m. last Thursday, excitement swept across the faces of both staff and pupils at the Chatbum Road site. And then finally, as the chauffeur-


driven navy blue Jaguar, escorted by a fleet of specially-armoured motor­ cycle riders came into view at 11 a.m., excitement reached fever pitch. Wearing a stylish grey suit with a


navy blue raincoat on top, the Prince, who was visiting Lancashire for a day


in his role as Special Representative for International Trade, stepped out of his car and was immediately greet­ ed by headteacher Mr Stuart Holt and chairman of governors Canon Philip Dearden. Against a background of loud


cheers and applause, the Prince slow­ ly walked towards the school building and stopped for a few minutes to chat and joke to the thrilled pupils, who lined the schoolgrounds dressed in their smart blue uniforms. As the Prince reached the end of


the line, he asked the group of young­ sters: “Does it always rain up here?” Appearing very relaxed and chat­


ting all the time, the royal visitor was then introduced to a row of distin­ guished guests and civic dignitaries, including Ribble Valley mayor Coun. Charles Warkman and his wife,


Ruth, along with the county’s cabi­ net member for education, Coun. Alan Whittaker, before making his way inside for an official tour of the


building. Outside the school gates, the


crowds were slow to form, but the day was a thrill of a lifetime for onlooker Mr Michael Day (54), who travelled from Longridge for his first-ever sight


of the Prince. He said: “I >vas so excited that I


was up, dressed and on the bus by 7- 55 a.m. and have been waiting here since 8-30 a.m. I am a big fan of the royals and only just managed to see Prince Andrew, though it would have been good if he had come over and spoken to us.” During his stay at Chatburn Road,


the prince visited three classes in progress, art, technology and Ger-


man, meeting pupils, including Ger­ man exchange students.


Mr Dearden, who escorted the


royal on his tour of the school and exhibition staged especially for his visit, said: “He was genuinely inter­ ested in what the pupils had designed and why they had used the specific colourful materials. “His radiant smile showed he was


■clearly relaxed and enjoying the tour and frequently paused to admire art­ work designed by GCSE pupils.” After visiting the classrooms, he


planted a tree in the school quadran­ gle to commemorate his visit. It was a particularly proud day for


headboy Matthew Vernon. After the prince finished planting the tree, he turned to him and said: “From now on you are responsible for ensuring


the tree does not die.” Shortly before moving to the


school’s York Street site, his final stop was the main hall, where he watched the drama club perform the song “Oklahoma.” He asked the entertainers: “How


A ROYAL wave from the Prince (A080704/2b) Pictures by Andrew Smith


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many of you have actually left school?” The lead performer replied: “I have, but I have especially come back to perform for you.” The Prince's next port of call was


the Sixth Form Centre. His arrival prompted loud screams


and shouts from Years 5 and 6 pupils from Brookside Primary School, who stood besides the railings waiting anxiously for their first sight of the special visitor.


© o


H- Clitheroe 422324 (Editorial), 422323 (Advertising), Burnley 422331 (Classified) www.clitheroetoday.co.uk


♦


♦ Clitheroe Advertiser & Times, July 15th, 2004 33 and what an exciting day it was Pupil Elizabeth Meyer (11), said: “I


have never met any member of the Royal family before. I hope Prince Andrew has a very nice time in Clitheroe and one that he can remem­ ber all his life.” Looking delighted at the noisy wel­


come he was receiving from high-spir­ ited flag-waving crowds who had assembled outside the school gates, and smartly dressed sixth-form pupils in the school grounds, the prince said: “Get inside, get warm.” After being introduced to a row of


education officials, he made his way inside the building, which was official­ ly declared open by Her Majesty the Queen, in October 1990.


Inside the school, the Duke of York


spoke to several members of staff and surviving former headteachers includ­ ing Mr Gerry Hood, Miss Barbara Bingham, Mr Roy Adams and Mr Clive Darley. He gained an insight in the exhibi­


tion of archives and the school’s histo­ ry and kept asking CRGS’s archivist, Mr Keith Harwood, about the school’s achievements since its foundation by royal charter in 1554 by Queen Mary I and King Philip of Spain. When asked to unveil a plaque in


the school’s refectory to commemorate his visit, he stated: “Another plaque?” The inscription on the plaque reads: “Clitheroe Royal Grammar School. To


commemorate the visit by HRH The Duke of York KCVO. ADC. In the 450th anniversary year of the granting of the Royal Charter 8th July, 2004.” He was then asked to sign a visitors’


book by Mr Dearden and subsequent­ ly spent considerable time mingling with staff and pupils. “Debating” was the topic under dis­


cussion when pupil Natasha Finch was lucky enough to have a chat with the prince. The 16-year-old said: “I was a little


nervous at first, but he was so nice and made me feel very comfortable.” Before leaving the building to go


outside on a short walkabout, the prince praised the efforts of head­


teacher Mr Holt, and said to the pupils: “When you leave school and go out into the real world, that is when you will appreciate the merits of the school and what it has been able to do for you.” Outside, the school’s acclaimed


Swing Band, led by former sixth-form head Mr Nigel Spooner, was much appreciated by the 300-strong audi­ ence of pupils and residents. At 12-45 p.m., the Prince made his


way outside among the pupils joking and laughing to a few of them. Before departing, he gave one big


wave to all his royal-watchers, who were equipped with cameras. Speaking to the Clitheroe Advertiser


What two of the school’s budding journalists made of it all


and Times, Mr and Mrs David and Pat Cockshot and their friend Mrs Sue Carter, of Rimington, said: “He is just so handsome. It was nice to see him smiling all the time. “Despite the cold weather, the band


kept us entertained and we were extremely impressed with all the secu­ rity arrangements.” Summing up the successful visit, Mr


Holt said: “We are absolutely delight­ ed. We all thought it was wonderful that the Duke decided to visit us. “He spent a great deal of time


speaking to both the staff and pupils and he was very good with everyone. “It was a magnificent day for everyone to remember for a long time.”


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CLITHEROE Royal Gram­ mar School welcomed Prince Andrew, Duke of York, in celebration of their 450th anniversary following the annual Commemoration Day on Thursday. The Duke of York arrived


in a helicopter at Highmoor Playing Fields and then drove to Chatburn Road with a police escort. When he arrived at the school, he was greeted by many eager pupils. He arrived with a smile


and a joke, commenting on how pupils standing outside had got the short straw as it was raining! Mr Holt, headteacher, wel­ comed the Duke and led him


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BTHE Duke of York’s visit was a huge scoop for two of the school’s budding journal­ ists who produce the school’s newspaper “The Royal Blaz­ er”. Here, Year 7 pupils Hannah


Wallis and Clementine Brown give their slant on Prince Andrew’s much-awaited tour.


into the school. His visit including meeting the Ger­ man Exchange students from Emsdetten and he also admired art work designed by GCSE pupils. Next was a spectacular les­


son on flight where the Duke of York watched as pupils launched rockets and explained the aerodynamics


CROWDS wait with their flags outside Clitheroe Royal Grammar School’s York Street site, above (A080704/2g) and below (A080704/2j)


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of an aeroplane. One pupil said: “The Duke of York was very encouraging, especially when one of the rockets refused to launch!” A tree was planted in the quadrangle at the Chatburn


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Road site to commemorate his visit. His final stop was to the


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