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Royal Visit

HRH The Princess Royal (Princess Anne) visited Lowdham Grange on Tuesday 10th February 2009 to view the fantastic work done by Ron Patterson and Elaine Tinsley in their Story Time Dads project. Ron is a major Butler Trust award winner for this project and Princess Anne is the Patron of the Butler Trust.

Princess Anne and the Royal Party arrived by helicopter landing on the local Village Green at the back of the prison.

Their visit started in the new Amenities block where the Princess, and her entourage of dignitaries, was met by Director John Biggin who introduced them to many staff and prisoners around the prison.

Skills for Life Tutor Ron, who received support from the Butler Trust to develop his idea for Storytime Dads, showed Princess Anne the recording studio. The Princess Royal met and spoke with the prisoners who run the studio and saw a recording session in progress where offenders record themselves reading stories for their children to enjoy at home.

Ron said, “Since November we’ve done 300 recordings and all feedback has been positive. The families love the CDs; they reinforce family ties that are so important. Princess Anne was really impressed.”

The final leg of the visit was to see the In Cell Learning pilot on HB3, and to unveil a plaque to commemorate her visit after which Princess Anne was presented a posy of flowers by 7 year old Amy Briggs, daughter of Halina Briggs, Chaplaincy Administrator.

The Royal Party, dignitaries and staff then retired to the Director’s Office and the Boardroom for a luxury buffet lunch prepared by Steve Warren and his trainee prisoner chefs.