The Duke of Gloucester opening the engine house

The Duke of Gloucester got a royal welcome when he arrived in the county today to unveil Severn Valley Railway’s new £3.7 million visitor centre near Bridgnorth.

The Queen’s cousin first touched down at Oldbury Wells School, in Bridgnorth, by helicopter before the Lord Lieutenant Algernon Heber-Percy presented the school’s head teacher, Sarah Godden, to His Royal Highness.

About 100 Year 7 pupils waved flags and cheered as the duke arrived.

After catching a royal train to Highley, the duke was met by pupils from Highley Junior School, who lined up outside with more than 200 other people to welcome him.

The visit began with a tour of Highley signalbox before the duke cut a ribbon to officially mark the reinstatement of Highley station footbridge, after an absence of 35 years. Following a guided tour of the Engine House Visitor Centre by curator David Mee, the duke unveiled a plaque to declare the new attraction open.

Severn Valley Railway chairman, Michael York, said “We are delighted that His Royal Highness was able to accept our invitation to mark the formal opening of the Engine House.”

The Duke of Gloucester, a patron of Severn Valley Railway for more than 10 years, was due to open the Engine House in April but had to cancel because of illness.

The facility has been open unofficially since last year and contains eight full-size steam locomotives.

For more pictures and reports see tomorrow’s Shropshire Star