VIDEO AND GALLERY: Prince Charles visits Burnley (From Burnley and Pendle Citizen)

VIDEO AND GALLERY: Prince Charles visits Burnley

4:20pm Friday 5th February 2010

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More stories about: Prince Charles in Burnley

By Tyrone Marshall »

Prince Charles has left Burnley after five engagements on his royal visit.

• Prince Charles photo gallery

Running slightly behind schedule, the Prince left the town at 4.20pm after a day checking on the progress of his charities which are working towards social, economic and environmental regeneration.

Ten of the Prince’s charities are involved in promoting the development of the town, along with Burnley Borough Council and other local organisations.

This morning the rain stopped just in time as the Prince, wearing a Burnley FC badge and claret-coloured tie and handkerchief, arrived at Burnley FC's stadium at 10.10am.

He was met by Burnley mayor Coun John Harbour, council leader Gordon Birtwistle, Clarets chairman Barry Kilby and club director Brendan Flood.

The Prince was also greeted by around 60 pupils from St Mary's RC Primary School, waving home-made union flags, as well a few dozen other well-wishers.

Prince Charles spoke to two boys from the school, Harris Tomlinson and Brendan Hird, who are both eight years old today, and wished them happy birthday.

Well-wisher Alan Jenkinson, 53, from Burnley, said: "I'm a bit of a royalist so it was great to get a glimpse of him.

"It's not every day you get to see a future monarch.

"I think the work he has done in the town with the Prince's Trust has been fantastic."

The Prince was presented with a personalised Burnley shirt, with the number 1 and the name HRH on the back, by Clarets chairman Barry Kilby.

And Charles proved well versed in the Clarets’ fight to avoid relegation on a relatively shoestring budget.

Mr Kilby explained: “He knows all our scores this season and he realises how vital our game is tomorrow at home to West Ham.

"I would like to think he may be rooting for us to win that match. I think he was pleasantly surprised with the award."

The Prince’s Trust and Burnley FC have combined to form Get Started with Football, which aims to motivate unemployed young people through the sport.

Charles observed some of the youngsters being put through their paces during warm-ups on the pitch.

Students from Blessed Trinity RC College also gave him a glass vase, while women from the Dreams Too project, an activity programme for unemployed women run by the Prince's Trust, performed a song-and-dance routine for their royal visitor.

He was then given a presentation by young people who have participated in programmes run by the Prince’s Trust and Business in the Community.

Two 18-year-olds from Burnley, Ryan McKinlay and Jack Heys, described to Charles how their lives were transformed by a programme called Life Maps - a five-day residential course for young people organised by the Army and Lancashire Police.

Ryan said he had lost his job a year ago and had dropped out of college before he was given a taste of Army life on the course.

He said: “It is hard to believe I was doing nothing a year ago but today I am telling my story to His Royal Highness. In two days’ time I will be starting my basic training with the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.”

Jack said: “This time last year I was in a bad place. I was taking drugs and was out on the streets. My life was going nowhere. Then I found out about Life Maps and have gone on to do every programme the Prince’s Trust has offered.”

He said he was now training to be a full-time volunteer with the Prince’s Trust.

The Prince then had a private meeting where Burnley FC bosses discussed their hopes for the future.

He left Turf Moor just after 11.30 for his next appointment at the Burnley College and UCLan campus, where he met entrepreneurs who have been helped by the Prince's Trust and spoke to students.

Imogen Sutton, 18, a student governor, said: "He was very chatty when he came in. He seemed really nice and took a genuine interest in what I did.

"He spoke to a lot of students and was joking with them. I was surprised at how many he spoke to."

Xavier Bruggen, 18, an A level student, presented a commemorative trophy to the Prince.

He said: "It was an honour to meet him and present him with the trophy. He asked if I was sure I could spare it and if I wanted to let to go of it."

Fiona Batey, 18, an arts student, designed the box that housed the trophy.

She said: "It was great to be involved and it was really nice to meet him. He said he liked the box and trophy. It certainly makes a change from a normal day."

He left for his next engagement with about 200 students cheering outside and banners saying 'Welcome Prince Charles' and 'Welcome to Burnley College'.

Charles was welcomed to Towneley Hall, his next stop, by music performed by pupils from nearby Unity College.

The Prince toured the hall's Offshoots permaculture site, a walled garden which uses environmentally-friendly technologies.

And he was presented with a Blenheim Orange apple tree grown in Lancashire.

He also spoke to Unity College and St Stephen's CE Primary School pupils.

At 2.55pm the Prince arrived at Cherry Fold Primary School, where he learnt about its business programme and met representatives of the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust.

A crowd of about 25 bystanders had been waiting outside in the cold for up to an hour and a half for Charles to arrive.

Many waved union flags while one Burnley fan was wearing a Clarets shirt and waving a Dare To Dream Wembley flag.

Julie Darwin, 52, said: "We've been waiting for a while. It's freezing cold but it will be worth it just to catch a glimpse of him.

Jonathan Platt, 30, said: "I can't wait to see him. I'm going to give him a wave when he arrives. I'd love to speak to him but I wouldn't know what to say. I think it's great he's come to Burnley."

The Prince arrived at the Burnley Lane Action Group facility in Fraser Street at 3.45pm.

Children and adults were waiting for his arrival at the centre, where he met community volunteers and young people.

And he stopped to chat to the crowd on his way out before departing the town.

Follow our coverage of Prince Charles' visit to Burnley throughout the day on this page. Also, don't miss our full report and pictures in tomorrow's paper.

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