Royal visitor
Princess Anne pays a visit to hub of the community
Royalty arrived in Fernhill last week when HRH the Princess Royal paid a visit to the community centre.
She enjoyed a tour of the facility and met individual users and some of the regular user groups as well as local schoolchildren.
Royalty arrived in Fernhill last week when HRH the Princess Royal paid a visit to the community centre.
She enjoyed a tour of the facility and met individual users and some of the regular user groups, including Fair Deal, a social enterprise group who are there five days a week.
HRH was also introduced to 60 schoolchildren from Cathkin Primary as they were put through their paces by football coaches from the Fernhill Soccer Academy, and to an urban dance class and a drumming circle with their tutors from South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture.
The popular royal was very impressed with the centre which opened in 2011 and the range of activities that are available for all sections of the community. HRH unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit.
One of those locals who got to meet the Queen’s niece was Davy O’Neil, who runs the soccer academy.
He said: “She was brilliant, absolutely fantastic.
“She was asking about the park and about the kids and I told her this facility was a godsend.
“She was over the moon with what we had achieved and was really nice to talk to. She was definitely interested in what we were doing here.”
General manager of South Lanarkshire Leisure and Culture, Gerry Campbell, said: “We were delighted to welcome HRH to Fernhill Community Centre.
“She seemed to enjoy meeting the various groups and people and I am sure it is a memory they will cherish for a long time.”
It is a memory to cherish for a long time