On Tuesday 5 August, the West Wight was treated to a royal visit from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
The first stop for The Duke was The Gouldings residential home in Freshwater, where he was greeted in reception before having a tour of the home and chatted to several residents and employees. The visit was finished off with The Duke unveiling a plaque to commemorate his visit, and the signing of the visitors book. Next on the agenda was a trip to Yarmouth Pier, where The Duke battled the elements to unveil a new pier plank by the Round House. The Duke was welcomed at the Town end of the Pier by High Sheriff of the Isle of Wight Alan Titchmarsh, and a crowd of eager locals who applauded his arrival. The Duke stopped briefly to chat to crowd members, which included school children and holiday makers. Yarmouth pier has been undergoing extensive restoration of late, following around fifty piles being eaten away by gribble worms. The Duke was accompanied down the pier by Richard Gribble, the pier restoration project manager, and met at the end by crew members of the Yarmouth Lifeboat. The Duke unveiled his own inscribed plank, joining those already restored under the sponsor-a-plank scheme. The dukes visit cements what has been an eager and passionate project for Yarmouth Harbour, and provided a great morning out for the cheerful West Wight crowd.
By Amy Lacey