MORE PICTURES: Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh meet businesses and locals in Grantown
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
Although they arrived in the strath by helicopter a visit by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to Grantown was anything but a flying one this week.
The royal couple disembarked at the Heathfield showground before being driven to the high street for a walkabout that saw them taking the time to speak to dozens of locals who had turned out to pay their respects along with a number of tourists whose bemusement turned to delight when it was explained to them what all the hullabaloo was about.
Edward and Sophie’s first port of call was the Grantown Remakery social enterprise, based in the former home of the Strathy itself.
Over the past almost four years the Remakery has built a name for itself as the place to go with furniture in need either of repair or a transformational upcycling.
But as project manager Pete Carson explained - and was keen to get across to the royal visitors - it’s about much more besides.
“There were some nerves around - I think the most nervous of us all was myself - but they were both really interested in finding out what we did when they came in,” he said.
“Basically we do repairs and upcycling so there is the very practical apsect of our work but we are also a referral point for the job centre to work with boosting people’s skills not just practically but also in terms of working as part of a team, building confidence and so on.
“And similarly for the medical centre so that local GPs can refer people on to us who are maybe suffering mild mental heath difficulties or have mild disabilities.
“We also work with Grantown Grammar School, taking in two pupils in the morning and another young lad for a whole day on Wednesdays.
Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh Edward and Sophie visit Grantown
Subscribe to receive regular email newsletters
“Prince Edward, given his interest in youth work, was particularly interested in that aspect of what we do while I think while Sophie was just taking it all in. They were really engaged and interested in it all.”
The couple also visited the award-winning The Bookmark bookshop where they met proprietor Marjory Marshall and a number of enthusiastic young readers.
“They didn’t have very long here but they were very nice and very interested in what they saw - we had some children in from one of the primary schools reading and they seemed very interested in it,” Marjory said afterwards.
“We were happy to welcome them and I think the whole day was great for Grantown, to get that recognition and to see them taking such an interest in what we do.”
Proceeding further along the high street, as the sun split the sky Sophie picked herself up an ice cream on the way and the couple were presented with a hamper from Ashers the bakery.
They continued to smile and wave and share a word or two with many members of the crowd before they arrived at the Royal British Legion where they were greeted by many of the local youth organisations and Legion supporters.
Chairman Ewan MacGregor said: “Royal British Legion Scotland Grantown was delighted to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to meet a number of local youth groups and a cross-section of Royal British Legion supporters from the community.”
Among those they met at the Legion was Charlie Lyons who formerly served on the Royal Yacht Britannia and brought along a selection of photographs taken during his time on board, including one of Edward himself, aged six years old.
“The Duke was very taken with the pictures and spent a lot of time looking over them,” Mr MacGregor said. “He was even able to say exactly where they would have been when a lot of them were taken and when.”
Before leaving the Legion the couple also completed and signed a poppy wreath which will be placed at the town’s war memorial this Remembrance Day.
“It was a happy and memorable day for all in Grantown,” Mr MacGregor said.
The royal visit to Grantown was rounded off with a visit to family-owned Scotch whisky and premium spirits specialist, Gordon & MacPhail, at The Cairn Distillery.
Meeting members of the distillery team and Gordon & MacPhail chief executive Phillip White they learned about eco friendly initiatives at the site including a sedum roof which is home to thousands of pollinators, and initiatives to boost numbers of rare Goldeneye ducks along the banks of the river Spey.
Alongside nosing new-make spirit, the duke and duchess were also invited to plant an aspen tree near the distillery.
Mr White said: “We were honoured to welcome the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh to The Cairn Distillery, and delighted to introduce them to the members of our fantastic team who make our whisky and look after the guests to our visitor experience.
“The Cairn has been warmly received by the local community over the last two years since the distillery started production, and we are thrilled we could be part of this Royal visit to the area.”
