Visit by the Duke of Edinburgh

THURSDAY 18th APRIL 2013

The Duke meets the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Helen Powell

A brief visit to Bourne was made by the Duke of Edinburgh in 2013 to open a new teaching block at Bourne Grammar School in South Road.

He arrived by car on Thursday 18th April at 3.30 pm to be met by a large crowd lining the entrance and was welcomed by the Lord Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, Tony Worth, before being introduced to assembled dignitaries from the town and county including the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, Toby Dennis the Mayor of Bourne, Councillor Helen Powell, chairman of governors, Ian Fytche, and headteacher Jonathan Maddox, before being taken on a tour of the new building.

The £900,000 facility has two computing suites, three spacious classrooms and a base for the school-wide computer network and is devoted to the teaching of systems, control and computing. The block has been named the Turing Centre after Alan Turing, father of computer sciences.

Director of systems and control, computing and ICT, Stephen Brown, said afterwards: “Prince Philip spoke to every single student on his way around and he was certainly very impressed with what he saw and heard."

Afterwards, the duke attended a reception for visitors and staff, the school governors, prefects and heads of house, before leaving soon after 4.30 pm. "It was a spectacular day", said Mr Maddox. "The Duke is the most senior member of the Royal family for visit Bourne and so this has been a highlight in the history of school and the town."

The school had closed early and pupils lined the car park to join in the welcome has the duke arrived, together with members of the public who had gathered at the school gate to catch a glimpse.

The mayor, Councillor Helen Powell, who also toured the new building and took tea with the Duke, said afterwards: “Bourne is a special place and to have a visitor such as Prince Philip is quite wonderful. This is just fantastic for everyone involved. The pupils will never forget the day Prince Philip came to their school.”

The Duke left Bourne by car soon after 4.30 pm.