Sunshine for royal (From Free Press Series)

Sunshine for royal

THE sun shone for Princess Anne during her visit to Pontypool on Monday.

Arriving by helicopter in Pontypool Park, the Princess Royal was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Gwent, Simon Boyle, and Assistant Chief Constable of Gwent Police, William Horne, before being whisked away to her first destination, the MIST Project, at Mamhilad Business Park.

MIST, Multi-disciplinary Intervention Service Torfaen, brings together teams of professionals to provide support to children and young people with complex emotional and behavioural difficulties, there Princess Anne met with members of NCH Cymru, the team who manage the project. The next stop was Dragon Bands, in Pontnewynydd Industrial Estate, where a crowd of around 30 people were waiting to see her.

The Princess broke with usual tradition and abandoned her car to walk into the estate to meet Angela Bryne, who set up the non-profit organisation for young musicians five years ago.

Mrs Bryne said: "It was absolutely fantastic, she was very interested in the music and said she wants to be kept up to date with what we are doing." While there Princess Anne was entertained by solo artist Scott Howells, aged 14, from Penygarn, who performed Savage Garden's To The Moon and Back and rock band Useless Dreams.

Useless Dreams are Gemma Lewis, aged 13, David Morgan, aged 12, and Daniel Collins, the group performed a song they penned especially for the visit called Run Along Now.

Mrs Bryne's added: "Princess Anne was fantastic she took the time to speak to everyone involved in Dragon Bands, all the volunteers and youngsters, everybody was so excited."

The Princess Royal's last visit was to the former Clarence Hotel building, in Pontypool, which is nearing the end of its multi-million pound refurbishment to transform it into office and residential accommodation. Her Royal Highness met and spoke with Denise Langman, Pontypool's Town Centre Manager, to see how the Clarence is helping the town's regeneration.

Ms Langman said: "Princess Anne was very pleased and suitable impressed by the work that has been done.

"I think the Royal visit gives the people involved in these projects the confidence and optimism to carry on and Eastern Valley they have done a great job to bring the Clarence Hotel building back into use."