Arriving in Weston-super-Mare by helicopter on Monday 25th July 2011, Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal was greeted by The Lord-Lieutenant of Somerset, Lady Gass.
Proceeding to the Winter Gardens Pavilion, Princess Anne was introduced to Graham Turner, Chief Executive of North Somerset Council and other dignitaries. Mr Turner escorted Her Royal Highness into the new Tourist Information Centre, which was recently relocated to the Winter Gardens Pavilion, following a substantial joint investment by North Somerset Council and Parkwood Leisure.
At this point Andrew Holt, Chief Executive of Parkwood Leisure, was introduced to Princess Anne. Parkwood Leisure was awarded, in April 2011, the10-year management contract for Winter Gardens Pavilion and The Playhouse Theatre. Mr Holt chatted with The Princess Royal about the extensive history of The Winter Gardens, which dates back to 1927 and her Royal Highness recalled previous occasions when she opened Parkwood Leisure facilities, Mountbatten Leisure Centre in Portsmouth and the re-opening of Brough Park Leisure Centre in Staffordshire.
Her Royal Highness was invited to sign the Visitor’s Book, before entering the Winter Gardens Ballroom. Within the Ballroom The Princess Royal viewed an exhibition of the ‘seafront flood protection and enhancements’, which is also the panoramic view from the balcony windows. Following light refreshments, the Royal Party departed to visit the Grand Pier.
To the sounds of the RAFA Concert Band, Her Royal Highness was invited by Mr Michael and Ms Michael, owners of the Grand Pier and Chairman of the Council, Colin Hall, to unveil a plaque commemorating the re-opening of the Grand Pier. The Royal Party then proceeded to the centre of Princess Royal Square to view the recently restored 1913 Coalbrookdale Fountain where Mr Graham Turner presented Mrs Mary Macfarlane, Great grand-daughter of Thomas Macfarlane who gave the Fountain to the town.
Before departing, Her Royal Highness was presented with a bouquet of flowers from Olivia Hall (aged 4) and Darcey Hall (aged 2), granddaughters of the Chairman of Council and ‘good luck’ messages for the then forthcoming Royal Wedding of Zara Phillips to Mike Tindall, from Honey May Rich and Lachlan Marshall (both aged 7) on behalf of students from Walliscote Primary School.