Princess Royal visits Beccles

BECCLES gave a warm and patriotic welcome to the Princess Royal yesterday as she flew in to officially re-open the refurbished St John Ambulance Hall.

The weather was damp and dull but the Princess brightened it with smile for the large crowds who had gathered outside the hall in Blyburgate to welcome.

Among the ardent Royalists there was Beccles woman Phyllis Crickmore, who lives just across the road from the hall and had decorated her house with red, white and blue bunting for the occasion. She said she was delighted to be given the chance to see the Princess Royal: “I go and see any of the Royals that I can. I always go to the Sandringham Flower Show,” she said.

Also amongst the crowd was Joan Clarke, one of three Beccles sisters who had turned out for the day. She said: “We think the royal family do a great job - it's why we're waving the Union Jack!”

Other Union Jacks were on view as well as the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, stepped from her limousine which took her from the heliport and Ellough, to where she flew in from Sandringham, to be greeted by the St John Ambulance Suffolk Commander Tony Curd.

Then followed a memorable experience for all those connected with St John's in Beccles as she met members of the division's Badgers, the youngest age group, cadets and adult members, who meet regularly at the hall and who in the summer are out and about on first aid duties at a variety of events in the area.

They now have a splendidly refurbished hall in which to carry out their regular training, and they saw her unveil a commemorative plaque to mark her visit, and plant a commemorative tree outside the hall in the car park, before taking her well. The crowds stayed out despite the adverse weather, to see her depart.

For a full report and more pictures on the Princess Royal's visit, see pages four and five of his week's Journal.