School children from all islands impressed Prince Edward on Wednesday proving that even a small community like Scilly has a lot to offer.
Prince Edward was first introduced to children working on computers and later joked that it was lucky no one asked him to have a try because generally computers “go bang” when he touched them.
Then islanders and children watched as pupils from the Five Islands School played for the Royal Visitor.
Eleanor Tabron from Tresco played one of her own compositions on the piano. She was pleased with the piece but told Scilly News: “My hands were shaking really badly I was so nervous.”
Then Stephanie Ould and Danielle Johnson from St Mary’s impressed the royal visitor and islanders alike with a song. Danielle told Scilly News: “It went very well.”
Stephanie’s father Rev. Julian Ould said: “It is a very proud day for me. Stephanie has a wonderful singing voice and hopes to make a career out of it.”
The Prince also met John Martin, Martin Sherris and Jennifer Martin who have all taken part in the Duke Of Edinburgh Award Scheme as well as team leader and Biology teacher Mike Rigby. He asked them about their expeditions and John Martin said to Scilly News: “He was very nice and friendly.”
After meeting the crew of the island’s lifeboat and St Mary’s harbourmaster Jeff Penhaligon the royal visitor took a tour of the Waiting Room on the quay and saw some familiar faces (see gallery 2). He also chatted to visitors over from St Ives and asked them about what they thought of the islands.
After a quick trip across the water the Prince ate a lunch at the Hell Bay Hotel on Bryher. He sat down to a dinner of Bryher crab and Cornish smoked salmon with citrus creme fraiche. Then a main course of Roast Trevarrack Farm lamb, Bryher spinach, minted mash and a red wine reduction. Then polished off a dessert of elderflower and mixed berry jelly with home-made lemon and white chocolate sorbet.
Hotel Manager Euan Rodger told Scilly News: “He joked and chatted with all the guests and thanked eveyone for a very warm welcome. He was taken with the islands and joked that his ?brother? had kept them a secret from him for too long!”
After donning his oilskins the Earl of Wessex embarked on a fishing trip with Mark Pender and Tim Allsop from St Martins.
Mark Pender said he took the guest “off to Shipman’s Head to look for lobsters in some pots.”
The Prince said the journey was “very calm” and that they had seen lots of lobsters.
He then made his way back to St Mary’s on the Bryher Boat and was met by a crowd of 100 visitors lining the pavements of Hugh Street.
Prince Edward then met the staff from the Tourist Information Centre. Jo Legg the Tourism Marketing Assistant said: “he was really funny and really enjoyed his visit.”
He then signed Scilly’s Visitors Book and looked back on entries from his brother Prince Charles who has visited the islands on many occasions. Then made his way back to the mainland for a tour of Cornwall.