Royal treat for trainspotters
TRAINSPOTTERS in Kingussie received an unexpected treat when the Duke of Edinburgh pulled up at the town’s station on his way to the closing ceremony for RAF Kinloss.
HRH Prince Philip arrived on the royal train first thing on Thursday morning on his way to attend the disbanding of three former Nimrod flying squadrons at the Moray base.
The 89-year-old prince, who holds the title of Honorary Air Commodore for the RAF base, was dressed in full air force uniform.
A spokeswoman for Buckingham Palace said that Prince Philip had used the local train station as it would cause the least disruption to the public rail network.
She explained: “The royal train has to fit in around scheduled train services. Kingussie was the best place to drop off and collect Prince Philip.
“After he disembarked, he was driven to RAF Kinloss.
“His next engagement, a reception at the Royal Academy, was in Edinburgh, and Kingussie was the most convenient place for the train to wait.
The prince departed from Kingussie shortly after 4pm.
One of those at the station when the royal visitor alighted was Kincraig schoolboy Ashley Newman, whose bagpipes were checked by the prince’s security team.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said the third-year Kingussie High School student. “I had just finished my piping lesson in the primary school, and was crossing over to the high school when the royal train pulled in and Prince Philip appeared.
The 14-year-old, who is one of the country’s top young pipers, said: “A security guy asked me what was in the bag. I didn’t argue!”
Northern Constabulary said they had received a brief phone call the night before, informing them of the prince’s stop at Kingussie.
Inspector Angus Macleod said: “We were asked to provide a single police officer presence there, which we did. It did not affect policing on a day-to-day basis.
“There were police officers from other forces involved in his visit who were part of the royal entourage.”
Earlier this year Prince Philip announced his intention to cut back on public engagements as he approaches his 90th birthday on June 10.
The disbandment parade was a poignant day marking the end of Kinloss as an RAF base.
It follows the announcement earlier this year of its closure as an operational airfield as part of the Government’s strategic defence review.
An invited audience of 700 guests watched as the colours of the three squadrons – 42 (Reserve) Sqn, CXX Sqn and 201 (Guernsey’s Own) – were marched into history.
The salute was taken by Prince Philip; the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, and the Station Commander at RAF Kinloss, Group Captain James Johnston.