News
HRH visits Glasgow to launch START tour
6th September 2010
The Prince of Wales, known as The Duke of Rothesay in Scotland, has embarked on a five-day tour of Britain to promote sustainable living through his new START initiative.
Visiting Glasgow as the first leg of the tour, The Duke, who has been an environmental leader for nearly 40 years, met with members of the public as well as seeing a number of projects showcasing sustainability.
The Duke sat on a collapsible red bike, which can be used by commuters, as well as sampling Highland Brie from the Highland Fine Cheeses stall, before donating a pair of green cord trousers to a Marks and Spencer Oxfam stall at Glasgow Central train station.
His Royal Highness also enjoyed a performance by school pupils from Hillhead High School jazz band.
Before departing for Edinburgh on the Royal train, which runs on used cooking oil, The Duke gave a speech and launched the “START cycling challenge” race from Glasgow to Edinburgh.
Before boarding the train, His Royal Highness said: “What I hope to get across, to as many people as possible, is that however awful a predicament we face with climate change and the unsustainable use of the natural resources that keep us all alive, we aren't going to get anywhere by telling everyone what they need to stop doing.
“There's been quite enough of that in recent years and we all know what the reaction is.
“So this week is going to be about the things that we can all start doing for our own benefit, for the benefit of everyone who shares this planet with us and for the benefit of our children and their children too.
“The message of START is about encouraging and assisting everyone to take the first steps towards the world that we all want to live in. A clean, healthy, energy-efficient world that lives within the limits of its natural resources and that we can actually take pride in.
“So START is a simple and positive message. It doesn't lecture or hector anyone about anything, nor does it attempt to frighten you.”
Nancy Gray, 74, from Shettleston in Glasgow, spoke to The Duke as he arrived at Glasgow Central: "He said, 'I hope I haven't interrupted your day'. I said, 'Welcome to Glasgow and I love you very much'," Ms Gray said.
Asked how she felt to meet The Duke, she said: "Overwhelmed."
The Royal tour will also head to Carmarthen, Bristol, Newcastle, Todmorden, Manchester, Nottingham and Birmingham, finishing in London on Friday.
Further information
START: www.startuk.org
Royal tour: Follow the START tour