PRINCE Edward paid his third visit within a year to Down District on Thursday — this time in honour of the new sports centre at Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre.
Greeted by the Lord-Lieutenant of County Down, Mr. David Lindsay, on Thursday afternoon, a relaxed and jovial Earl of Wessex said that “of course” he had expected the sunny weather and that he had been admiring the local countryside on his drive down from Belfast.
The prince, who was marking the service of Duke of Edinburgh Awards leaders during this visit, had been at another Duke of Edinburgh Awards engagement at the Harbour Commissioners Office in Belfast earlier that day and was travelling on to a garden party at Hillsborough Castle.
Killyleagh Outdoor Education Centre opened in 1969 and was the first purpose-built, education-based sailing centre in Northern Ireland. In the 1990s the centre developed a full range of outdoor education opportunities, including Duke of Edinburgh Expedition training for young people. The recently completed sports hall, built at a cost of £500,000, will facilitate archery and indoor climbing and provide wash facilities for onsite camping.
After meeting local dignitaries, including South Down MP Margaret Ritchie, Down Council chief executive John Dumigan and Down Council chairwoman Maria McCarthy, the prince met with South Eastern Education and Library Board commissioners and representatives of the Department of Education.
Miss Ritchie said she and the prince chatted about his previous visits to the area when introduced again.
“I was recalling his visits to Ardaluin House in Newcastle and to The Edge in Ballynahinch, and the importance of the work of volunteers associated with these projects,” she said.
“He seemed very interested in the district and said he had commented on the beauty of it when driving through.”
Ms. McCarthy remarked that the prince was “very pleasant” on their first meeting, while Mr. Dumigan confirmed he was “very charming”.
Among those Prince Edward went on to chat to in the new sports hall were students from Down High School, who demonstrated the new climbing wall.
“Am I keeping you up there?” he joked to one of the Down High School students, who had been in position from the top of the climbing wall since news filtered through of his arrival.
“Are you OK?” he shouted to another who unexpectedly lost her footing.
Among those trying out the wall was Upper Sixth Form pupil Ryan Duffy, who has completed his Silver Duke of Edinburgh award. He said the climbing activities for his award had been outdoors, but that he and the prince were impressed with the new indoor facility.
“He was asking us how we found the wall and the difficulty of the different angles of the wall,” he said.
Caroline Adams, another Upper Sixth student, added: “He was really nice to talk to, I thought he looked like William.”
Shannon Dunlop, also from Upper Sixth, agreed. “He was really easy to talk to, making jokes about keeping me hanging there,” she said.
Turning to the 20 Duke of Edinburgh instructors being awarded certificates for their long service, among those Prince Edward met were Connor Galbraith, from Alternative Education Provision, Downpatrick, Edith Finlay and Richard Mottram, from The High School, Ballynahinch, and Yvonne Maguire, from the Patrician Youth Centre.
Ms. Finlay, who has been involved with Duke of Edinburgh for 23 years, said the scheme was very important to her school, which currently had 20 bronze and 20 silver candidates.
“It is so worthwhile and gives those taking part such a range of experience and skills,” she said.
Following words of welcome from Pat Carvill, Commissioner Chair of the SEELB, His Royal Highness was invited to present Duke of Edinburgh Award Long Service Certificates by Trevor Quinn, DOE Award Manager with the SEELB.
The chief executive of the SEELB, Gregory Butler, then invited Prince Edward to unveil a plaque in honour of the new centre.
Prince Edward first offered words of encouragement to everyone involved in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme.
Addressing the Duke of Edinburgh leaders he said: “Thank you to all the leaders and volunteers without which none of this would be possible. Keep up the excellent work you do.
“Thanks to all the others who have not reached such milestones, and please keep up the good work.”
Turning to unveil the plaque he joked: “I have to look professional but I have had a bit of a holiday so I may be a bit rusty.”