PRINCE Charles is to get a royal welcome when he heads to Teesdale next week to officially open its £4million emergency services hub and visit The Bowes Museum.
The Prince of Wales will come to Barnard Castle on Thursday, February 15, to mark the grand opening of Wilson Street’s 999 building before meeting representatives from fire, police, ambulance and mountain rescue services.
He will then attend The Bowes Museum to view the John and Josephine Bowes gallery, the ceramics gallery, its picture gallery and the silver swan. The heir to the throne is said to be very much looking forward to returning to Teesdale – a place he has previously said he is “enormously fond of”.
The royal family’s links to Teesdale go back centuries.
The late Queen Mother’s ancestors, the Bowes family, were residents of the Streatlam Estate in the 14th century.
They later became the Bowes-Lyon family, who are best known for building The Bowes Museum.
Sandra Moorhouse, chairwoman of the Friends of the Bowes Museum and mayor of the town, said: “Having two royal visitors in a year is really good – we must not forget Princess Alexandra came for the 125th anniversary last year. It’s nice to have another royal visitor in my year as mayor.”
The Prince of Wales is a regular visitor to Teesdale and was dubbed the “prince of dales” after his last visit in 2012. Packed crowds saw him arrive by helicopter in the grounds of Middleton-in-Teesdale’s Primary School before he spoke to farmers and handed out cash to support Utass (Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services).
Barnard Castle’s emergency services hub became operational last year. In the wake of the announcement of the royal visit, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Ron Hogg said: “This is a great example of emergency services working together to provide upgraded facilities and services to the public while also saving money.”
