Duke of Gloucester drives the latest restored tram at Crich museum
THE Duke of Gloucester, Prince Richard, visited Crich Tramway Village, where he is patron, for a special day on October 20.
To welcome the Duke, who is 31st in line to the throne, were special guests the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, and the Mayor of Amber Valley, Coun David Taylor, and their consorts.
Two Lord Lieutenant's cadets, Cadet Colour Sergeant Claudia Gration and Cadet Staff Sergeant William Stelfox, saluted the Duke, who is also patron of the Severn Valley Railway, on his arrival and departure.
The day focussed on Tramway Museum Society members and offered them a chance to find out more about the latest projects and future plans.
Official launch
Tramway Museum Society chairman Karen Rigg and president Ian Ross, along with Crich general manager Dr Mike Galer, met the party on arrival and the Duke officially launched the latest tram restoration project, Newcastle No. 102, by driving it from the workshop out onto the track.
After meeting members, the Duke also toured the exhibition hall, which hosts a Century of Trams exhibition and another about history-maker Michael Holroyd Smith, before taking a further tram drive on Liverpool No. 869. Now closed for winter maintenance, the tramway village will reopen on March 12.