News
HRH visits Ruskin Mill Educational Trust in Gloucestershire
28th February 2008
The Prince visited Ruskin Mill Educational Trust and Gables Farm in Gloucestershire today.
The Trust operates residential education colleges for young people with special educational needs.
The college has about 95 students from across the UK, aged between 16 and 25, most of whom live locally with host families.
More than half are on the autistic spectrum, and others have emotional behavioural problems.
On arrival at the college, The Prince of Wales was greeted by the founder and director of Ruskin Mill Educational Trust, Aonghus Gordon and Principal of Ruskin Mill College, Michael Frosch.
During his tour of the college, His Royal Highness met staff and students in craft and practical skills workshops where students were working on hand looms.
His Royal Highness chatted away to the young people and took particular interest in the traditional skills they demonstrated to him.
The Prince, who was wearing a grey suit adorned with a leek pin to commemorate St David's Day tomorrow, said he was "very impressed" with their work.
Alasdair Robottom, 19, from Birmingham, a first year student at Ruskin Mill, said: "It's quite exciting that he came here. It's good that he has an interest in it."
Daniel Woolley, 16, who showed The Prince the rug he was making said: "I thought it was really amazing that he got the chance to come here."
The Duchy Home Farm, on The Prince's nearby estate, has links to the college, offering work experience for the students and providing herbs for its apothecary which The Prince visited today.
Before leaving, The Prince was presented with a trout raised and smoked at the Ruskin Mill Fish Farm, and took the chance to put his feet up on a chair made by former student Damon Lamonte, 32.
Second year student Andrew Boyes, 17, who was working on the wood lathe, said: "It's great he came. It actually gives him the chance to see what we do here. There's a good link between us and his farm, and now he's seen what we're about, and who he's letting on his farm!"
The Prince raised a laugh when he cracked a joke during the visit, telling 19-year-old Saara Turner, who was working at the centre's farm, to stop feeding hay to cattle.
He said: "They'll blow up if you feed them any more. You're stuffing them!"
Saara, from London, told The Prince to say hello to The Queen and "the boys" for her, to which he replied: "I will".
His Royal Highness then watched students making a gate, before setting off on the short journey home, telling Aonghus Gordon, founder and chairman of the Ruskin Mill Educational Trust:
"It's been a great pleasure. I'm most grateful."
Mr Gordon, whose parents bought the mill in 1967, said it was "amazing" to have The Prince's endorsement. The trust operates two other specialist colleges, in Sheffield and the West Midlands.