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News

TRH visit Worcester, Upton-upon-Severn and the Severn Valley railway

9th June 2008

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall travelled by steam today along a heritage railway line badly damaged in last summer's floods.

Their Royal Highnesses visited the area last year to meet residents who were affected by the summer floods last year.  Click here to read the story.

His Royal Highness learnt how to signal trains and drive the locomotive during the visit to the newly reopened Severn Valley Railway.

The 16-mile track, which runs through Worcestershire and Shropshire, suffered major damage last year after the flooding that hit the area.

More than £3million was spent on repairing the track, parts of which were left hanging in mid-air following landslides.

The crowds cheered as the royal train, pulled by steam engine, arrived at Bewdley train station in Worcestershire.

The pair greeted the public before The Prince went to have a look around the signal box and The Duchess returned to the train.

The Prince laughed as he sounded the horn on board the steam engine.

"It's amazing what small things will please," he joked.

John Hill, marketing assistant for Severn Valley Railway, said: "It's nice to have what we have done over 40 years be recognised like this.

"The Prince has heard about our misfortunes and he has come to give us a boost which will help the tourism."

Up to 300,000 tourists visit the attraction each year. Local residents also benefit from the railway by being awarded discounted travel on the line.

Their Royal Highnesses travelled on the train from Kidderminster, Worcestershire, to Bridgnorth in Shropshire, stopping off at various stations on the way.

During their visit to Worcestershire, they also toured a surgery which was affected by last summer's flooding.

The pair were shown around the new Upton Surgery, a combined GP and dentist practice, in Upton-upon-Severn, and unveiled a stained glass window in the reception.

Earlier today, The Prince of Wales repaid a 350-year-old debt left by King Charles II to a clothes company.

The Prince handed over the £453.15, which King Charles failed to pay the Clothiers Company of Worcester in 1651 when he commissioned them to make uniforms for his troops.

The Prince met with representatives of the company during a visit to The Commandery history museum in Worcester.

As he presented the money in a "gaming purse" made by the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Prince joked that he was glad he didn't have to pay back any interest.

"It seems that members of the Clothiers Company have a long memory," he said. "By long I mean nearly 400 years. Nevertheless, as a gesture of good will I come today prepared to honour this debt of £453 and three shillings.

"I suspect that it will not have escaped your notice, however, I am resisting the immense temptation to pay the debt with full interest. I was not born yesterday."

Philip Sawyer, High Commissioner of the Clothiers Company, accepted the money and gave The Prince a receipt.

He said: "We have closed a very long chapter in our history so we are most grateful to you."

Their Royal Highnesses were taken on a tour around The Commandery, which has undergone restoration work totalling more than £3million.

The museum building dates back to the 12th Century when it was a hospital giving aid to the infirm, the poor and people travelling through Worcester.

Throughout its life, it has been a home for a wealthy Tudor merchant, a Georgian house and a college for the blind.

It was bought by Worcester City Council in 1973, restored and turned into a museum.

While carrying out recent excavation work at the building, skeletons dating back to the 15th or 16th Century and the remains of an early chapel were found.