We were delighted to welcome HRH the Princess Royal and Admiral Sir Tim Laurence to the Museum on Monday 18 July for a relatively informal visit to see the Lighthouses exhibition. This was the third time that she has visited and, as always, she showed her interest and love of sailing.The royal party started by meeting the Volunteers of the day under the watchful eye of Captain George and was then shown around the Lighthouses exhibition by Ben Lumby and Sarah Riddle. They met former lighthouse keeper Gordon Partirdge and Colin Wortley, swapping anecdotes and stories for HRH is Patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board (aka 'Scotland's Trinity House') and has visited most of these. From the Quarterdeck, they made their way through SOUTH and down to their waiting boat for the trip to Mylor Yacht Harbour.
The atmosphere was informal all the way through with the public allowed to be in the same gallery as the royal party and occasionally chatting to them.
As Lady Mary Holborow said in her thank you letter 'It was obvious that Her Royal Highness and Sir Tim enjoyed it enormously and I would be grateful if you would pass on my thanks to all concerned.' Hear, hear.
Trivia:
- HRH was present when the last Scottish lighthouse keeper left the last manned lighthouse
- HRH never sailed in Coweslip or Bluebottle: she was regarded as 'too young'
- When they rebuilt the roof of St George's Hall, Windsor they cut the timbers to length. What they did not know was that the hall was not the same width at both ends and so the timbers were about a foot too short . Red faces all around.
