News
The Duchess visits High Close School in Wokingham as President of Barnardo's
13th November 2007
The Duchess of Cornwall visited schoolchildren with behavioural difficulties today on her first visit to a Barnardo's project in her new role as President of the charity.
The Duchess met staff and pupils on a visit to High Close School in Wokingham, Berkshire, where she dropped in on science, maths and drama lessons.
Her Royal Highness became President of Barnardo's, which runs projects across the country to help vulnerable youngsters, in October this year, taking over from Cherie Booth QC, wife of the former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
High Close School caters for 40 boarders and 30 day pupils aged between 10 and 16, many of whom have been excluded from mainstream education.
The Duchess met many young people as she toured the facility, which is run by 95 staff, and even had time to show off her table tennis skills in the school hall.
She challenged an 11-year-old pupil to a quick game saying "it had been a few years since she had played”, yet in winning a few points proved that she was something of a dab hand.
The Duchess also met former pupil Lloyd Davis, 19, who told her his remarkable success story after joining the school when he was 14.
His mother left home when he was only two years old and after a difficult childhood he was bullied at secondary school.
He began misbehaving and was excluded, spending time in a mental health unit where he was diagnosed with autism.
But since attending High Close School he gained his GSCEs and completed his A-levels and has now won a place at Canterbury Christ Church University to study Theology.
He today said: "This place set me up so well I could get back into mainstream education.
"It is a great place and the staff are fantastic - being here again today brings back so many memories.
"The school gives people like me and those studying here today the educational support they need to be able to get back to living a normal life."
Some pupils sang for The Duchess and presented her with a bouquet of flowers as she unveiled a plaque in the school hall to mark her visit.
She said: "I am extremely proud to be part of this fantastic organisation and wish everyone here well for the future.”
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