News
The Prince of Wales visits community projects in South Wales
16th November 2006
The Prince of Wales visited community projects in South Wales today.
The Prince was given a tour of the Dowlais Blast Engine House, in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, which has undergone a remarkable turnaround thanks to more than £1 million worth of funding.
The building, a relic of the area's heavy industrial past, once lay derelict but is now home to a community project supporting more than 23 football and netball teams.
The Prince's Trust is one of the many organisations to use the facility as a base since it opened a year ago.
The building also attracts young musicians and dancers and provides state-of-the-art computer equipment for adults as well as youngsters to use.
During his visit, The Prince was treated to a modern dance display, to the strains of music by Shakira and the Black Eyed Peas.
He heard the opening notes to the Metallica rock song Nothing Else Matters, which was played by 14-year-old guitarists Sarah Rogers and Stephanie Thomas.
After a brief chat, Stephanie said she thought The Prince “was really nice."
Among the local children he met were Kelly Bourne, 12, Sadie Ryan, 11, and 12-year-old Emilia Scott-Thomas.
The trio play football for the Pant and Dowlais Boys and Girls' Club and the Welsh under-12s girls' football team.
Emilia said: "Prince Charles was lovely. He was just asking us about how we got into football and he seemed interested."
The Prince also met up with local business leaders in Dowlais as part of his role as President of Business in the Community, which encourages businesses to have a positive effect on society.
Paul Marshallsea, project co-ordinator at the Dowlais Blast Engine House, said: "We're very grateful that he was able to come here today. He loved the building and he loved the project itself.
"As far as he is concerned we've saved a listed building and utilised it before it was bulldozed.
"We are in the business of prevention being better than a cure as far as giving children activities to do and The Prince agreed with that.
Before leaving, The Prince met two groups of Prince’s Trust young people who have been involved in a social enterprise programme and community impact award.
Later in the day, The Prince visited the Newbridge Institute and Memorial Hall, which is known to locals as simply 'the Memo.'
The spotlight was turned on the Grade II listed building two years ago when it finished runner-up in the second series of the BBC2 programme Restoration.
The once dilapidated building, built in 1908 with money raised by a group of local coal miners, is now home to a host of community groups and representatives from each one were on hand to meet The Prince.
The Newbridge & District Ladies Choir, who use the Memorial Hall for rehearsals, gave The Prince a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday a day after he celebrated his 58th birthday.
After being given a tour of the unique art-deco cinema housed in the upper reaches of the building, The Prince vowed to return to officially open it when it was finally renovated.
Addressing a gathering of more than a hundred people in the main hall, he said: "It is amazing what you have managed to do in keeping this building going despite the fact it had been abandoned for so long.
"I do know how important these buildings are within each community where they exist and it is one of the reasons why I have battled for so long to find new and appropriate uses for these splendid historic sites."
He also praised the marvellous sense of community spirit in Newbridge which he said he had "experienced in no uncertain terms" during his visit.
Before heading off, The Prince was presented with a walking stick and a hand written book detailing the history of the Memorial Hall as birthday presents.
He said: "I thank you more that I can possibly say for your great kindness in giving me these two gifts which I will treasure."
He added that he was "amazed" that people had remembered his birthday and, as he gets older, he joked he wasn't sure he wanted to be reminded of it.
Before leaving The Prince viewed displays of yoga and keep fit, an African drumming group, a kick boxing display, a short performance by the Cancercareline Pantomime Group and the Art Deco Cinema to listen to music by the Celynen Collieries Silver Band.
Conservation experts will be on hand to explain the restoration programme for the building. HRH will then walk back down to the Ballroom to watch further displays of dance, music and theatre. Before he leaves, HRH will also hold a short meeting with representatives from Business in the Community’s Seeing in Believing programme.
On his final engagement during his day-long visit to Wales, The Prince went to the Victorian Indoor Market in Newport.
His Royal Highness was shown the Taste of Enterprise Centre within the market which works in partnership with one of his charities, PRIME-Cymru, promoting self-employment and enterprise for people aged 50 and over in Wales.
The Prince was given a tour of the market which has recently undergone a £3 million renovation programme which included installing the largest, continuous stained glass window in Wales.
The Prince met people who have benefited from PRIME-Cymru, view displays of their work and meet their advisors, as well as visiting the stalls and displays of Newport and Gwent Enterprise clients.
Mr Harry Poloway was among a crowd of people The Prince stopped to greet before he left the market.
Mr Poloway, who has met The Prince before in his role as a civic toastmaster, said: "He asked me if I was 90 yet and I told him I had turned 91.
"He said 'You carry on until you are 100' and I asked him if he would turn up if I did and he said 'Yes'."