Last month we were able to give very brief details of Shirehampton’s Royal Visit, which took place just as we were going to press. We can now give a fuller description of the day.
HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, visited the Public Hall in Station Road, on 24 September. The visit marked the Centenary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Hall. The building also houses the Public Library, which will also be celebrating its centenary soon.
The weather was perfect for the occasion, and the Hall was looking its best for the visit. We are very grateful to the teams of volunteers who had worked to clean up both the inside and outside.
The day began with a welcome boost for Shirehampton on Radio Bristol’s morning programme. They were talking enthusiastically about ‘Royal Shirehampton’. The programme included a report by Rob Wicks, with interviews with several of the people who were going to meet Prince Edward.
The Prince arrived with Jay Tidmarsh, the Lord Lieutenant of Bristol. He was greeted by the Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Bill Martin, and David Thomas, Chairman of the Hall Community Association, who was acting as host. His first port of call was the Library. Eileen Lloyd, the Library Supervisor, introduced him to Library staff. The Earl also met Community Education tutors and students, who were working on computers in the Library.
Prince Edward chats to Community Education staff and students, and the Librarian. L to R: Deborah Tieney, Tutor, HRH, Kevin Mathews, Student, Hilary Davey, Tutor, and Eileen Lloyd, Library Supervisor. Photo: Alan Cossey
Before he left the Library, the Earl signed their Visitors’ Book. This goes right back to the opening day in 1905. The first page of the book includes the signatures of Philip Napier Miles, who donated the land to build the Hall, and also of a forebear of well known local historian Ralph Hack. We were very pleased that Sir Peter Miles, Philip Napier Miles’s heir, was present for the Earl’s visit. After the prince had left, the Lord Mayor, Sir Peter, and Ralph Hack also signed the book.
Ralph Hack signs the Library Visitors’ Book, watched by Eileen Lloyd, Library Supervisor, Sir Peter Miles, and David Thomas, Chairman of the Hall Association. Photo: Alan Cossey
The Earl then moved to the Public Hall itself. He started with the Community Action Forum, where he learnt about activities, including the Litterthon carried out by Portway School students, the Community Park project being moved forward by Shirehampton Greens, and other Forum activities.
Richard Fletcher, SCAF Development Worker, explains the Community Park proposals to the Earl of Wessex, watched by Tim Baynes Clarke, Ash Bearman, and David Thomas, of SCAF. Photo: Alan Cossey
Prince Edward then met the Station Road Playgroup, which was in session with a reduced number of children. He chatted to children who were using Playdough, and who had made flags for his visit.
Prince Edward chats to Playgroup leader Barbara Wylde and members of the Playgroup. Photo: Alan Cossey
The Hall had a large number of exhibits which represented the activities of many of the regular users. The Earl visited each of these in turn, and spent time talking to the user group members who explained what each group did. The groups included Shire After School Club, the Pillow Lace Group, Shire Stitchers, the Evergreens (who are the longest standing users of the Hall), the Model Railway Club, and Twyford Art Club.
Prince Edward then moved outside into the warm sunshine, where a crowd of onlookers was waiting. The Millennium Garden had a neatly dug hole in the middle of the lawn, with a pile of earth next to it, and a whitebeam tree ready to be planted in the hole. David Thomas explained that it was 100 years since the foundation stone of the Hall had been laid by Mrs Napier Miles, and invited HRH to plant the tree in commemoration of this centenary. Prince Edward then unveiled a plaque to mark his visit. Tim Baynes Clarke, minister of Shirehampton Baptist Church blessed the tree.
The Earl of Wessex inspects the Whitebeam tree before planting it and unveiling a plaque on the easel to the left of the picture. Photo: Alan Cossey
Before he left the Hall, the prince chatted with several of the crowd who had gathered outside to watch the tree planting.
To complete his visit to Shirehampton, the Earl crossed the road to St Bernards School, where he met several of the pupils. He then visited the Avon Youth Bus, where he met six students from Portway School who are doing activities for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Prince Edward chats to members of the crowd outside the Hall. Photo: Alan Cossey
Everyone who spoke to Prince Edward said how easy he was to talk to, and that he was very interested in their activities. Most participants enjoyed a buffet lunch in the Public Hall, and were able to share their experiences with each other.
There was more good publicity for Shirehampton after the visit. David Thomas gave a live interview that evening on Radio Bristol. Two days later, the Evening Post had a very good photo spread, including pictures of the prince meeting St Bernards School children.
DLT