Star comment: Visit of Prince Charles a fine season end for Shropshire
Putting the weather aside, it has been a wonderful British summer, with the glory and enthusiasm of the Olympics and Paralympics, and with the heightened patriotic feelings brought about by the Queen’s diamond jubilee.
The two places in the county which the Prince of Wales visited yesterday chimed well with his interests in heritage and history, albeit in two different ways.
Ludlow speaks of medieval splendour and fine traditional architecture, a town which has moved with the times without being spoilt by progress. It also has a racecourse with which the Prince is very familiar. It is amazing to think it is almost a decade since he opened the Jubilee Stand there.
Then it was on to the premises in Telford of a charity which he founded, and then to Ironbridge Gorge, which is celebrating a jubilee of its own, as it is 25 years since it was designated a World Heritage Site.
The links between Prince Charles and the cradle of the Industrial Revolution are longstanding. As museum patron, it is like home turf for him.
Everywhere he went during his Shropshire visit he was greeted by enthusiastic and welcoming crowds. Had the Prince seemed a bit distracted, it would have been understandable, with both his sons currently facing very different trials and pressures.
Harry is in a combat zone and, if the Taliban is to be believed, was the target of an assassination attempt. William and his wife have been the subjects of a squalid intrusion into their privacy.
Yet Prince Charles was relaxed and happy. Maybe being in Shropshire and among Salopians agrees with him.
With temperatures dropping and autumn at the door, the visit by Prince Charles to Shropshire was a great way to round off a season of many glittering highlights.
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Comments for: "Star comment: Visit of Prince Charles a fine season end for Shropshire"
Kath
A fine end for Shropshire? Nobody told me we were being abolished!
James
Of rather more interest than Prince Charles visiting Shropshire is a new ruling that the government must disclose details of his correspondence with ministers - in other words, the use of his position to lobby for his various 'causes'.
The fact that his views are often dangerously cranky is one thing, the fact that, as a future unelected head of state in a supposed democracy, he has this privileged access is much more disturbing.
Hopefully, the ruling will stand and people will begin to wake up to the way this man believes the country is his manor and he the feudal lord.
Sadly, the government will probably appeal and win, the masses will continue to wave silly little plastic flags whenever royalty appear, and the Star will continue in its role as the Shropshire branch of the palace press office. But I can dream....
Kath
The ruling only applies to correspondence up to 2005 - he's been given a blanket exemption from FOI for his correspondence after that.
James
Well, there'd be plenty to wade through even from then - all (so I gather) in his spidery, illegible hand. Whatever's released, can't see people taking to the streets, which is what they should do.