VIDEO: Princess visits Chorley

9:44am Wednesday 9th January 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

• Play Video

The 'princess and the farm girl' met up yesterday for a royal rendezvous in the Chorley countryside - where the seeds of an inspirational children's centre have been sewn.

The Princess Royal officially opened The Legacy, a new purpose-built centre for disabled children, in Salt Pit Lane, Mawdesley.

The centre belongs to the Eccleston-based Rainbow House charity, launched by the award-winning Joe Mawdsley, which supports disabled children from across the North West.

The Princess Royal, who officially opened Chorley Hospital in 1997, was back in the region for a day of official duties.

Prior to her visit to The Legacy she opened the Preston Carer Centre.

She also visited Garth and Wymott prisons.

Dressed in a maroon polar neck dress with a green tweed jacket and brown riding-style boots, the princess met invited guests, which included major sponsors and supporters, colleagues from education and the health service, a local government representative and staff and children from the centre.

On a cold, wet, grey morning, she was given a full tour of the facilities, hosted by Joe and John Dewhurst, from the Wooden Spoon rugby charity of which the princess is patron.

The visit lasted an hour and before leaving the princess unveiled an official plaque to mark the opening.

After the tour, Joe, who founded Rainbow House in 2001 to meet the needs of her two young sons William and Thomas, both of whom attend the centre, said: "She was an absolutely lovely lady, down to earth and quite impressed.

"She took full interest in what we are doing with the future development of the centre. She was really keen to talk to the staff and asked them what they did and how it benefits the children. She was really keen to know a lot more about what they did.

"From the questions she asked, I think she was quietly impressed."

Prior to the princess's arrival Joe and Mr Dewhurst held a brief press conference where they outlined the origins of Rainbow House and its connections with the Wooden Spoon charity.

Joe revealed she was a "farmer's girl" - and proud of it.

She explained how the charity helps 140 disabled children a week at three centres where there is a two-year waiting list for the conductive education they teach.

She said: "We need to grow, expand and build more.

"This year we need to raise £1.5m. To date we have raised about £740,000 - it is not enough.

"This is probably one of the best learning experiences of my life."

Her husband Andrew said a lot of hard work had gone into creating the Legacy, built on land owned by his father.

"We decided because of the setting it would be lovely to get something like this on site."

He said it had all happened because of William, aged 11 and Thomas nine, and that expansion was already on the cards.

"We have a big field and I think we are already going to convert the stables into an activity classroom," he said.

Staff said they were excited by the princess's visit.

Head of early years, Karen Colles, 43, of Bretherton, said: "It is amazing."

Colleague nursery nurse, Kim Skelton, 23, of Chorley, said: "I think the children are quite excited. We have been talking with the children about it and used it in the classroom.

"I think it is brilliant and will hopefully promote us and it is great for the community.

The princess stopped to talk to conductor Julian Rashleigh, 25, who said: "We talked about disabled horse riding and future plans for here. She was very friendly."

To view more pictures from the Royal visit click on the link below.