The Prince of Wales visited the Almshouses on the 10th July 1934 and planted an oak tree which still thrives. He used the spade which is signed “Edward” on the handle. The spade was used by the Duke of Gloucester during his visit in 1988. On that occasion he was presented with the first of 500 prints of the Almshouses, commissioned that year to raise money to restore the Pumphouse.
On the same day the Prince of Wales had luncheon at Arbury, visited the Hall and Phillips hat factory in Nuneaton, and declared the new Swinnerton School in Avenue Road, Nuneaton, open.
The Duke of Kent paid a surprise visit to the Almshouses on May 4th 2016. He was accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire Tim Cox and he met Governors, Residents and Almshouses Scheme Manager. It was a happy and relaxed visit with the Duke later writing to express his appreciation. This was the third occasion on which a member of the Royal family had visited the Elizabethan-style building constructed in 1840. Rotarian Ken Whitehead was on hand to record the event for which the Trust is most grateful.
Visit by HRH The Prince of Wales - February 18th 2020
The fourth Royal visit took place in February 2020 with a visit by HRH Prince Charles later to become King Charles III.
A large crowd gathered in All Saints Square to welcome the Prince as he arrived by car at the entrance to the Almshouse. He was greeted by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire and his wife, the Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth, her consort, the Chair and Chief Executive of the Almshouse Association, the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Hospital and Sermon Charity and the Clerk to the Charity. The Prince received a short tour of one of the Almshouse flats before meeting the Trustees and other guests in the Governors Hall. The residents enjoyed tea and cakes in the Residents Lounge where he joined them, moving from table to table so that everyone could enjoy his company. He was presented with gifts including a water colour painting of the Almshouse by local artist David Kearney, and a book about Nicholas Chamberlaine written by local historian John Burton. After signing the Visitors Book the Prince planted a Whitebeam tree using the same spade that his Great-Uncle Edward had used in 1934 to plant a still thriving Oak. The Prince acknowledged the crowd before being whisked away to his next appointment in Nuneaton, ending a highly successful visit to the historic and iconic Almshouses, its residents, staff and Trustees.
We are most grateful to Dean Wainwright for giving us permission to use his photographs from the occasion.
Visit by Sophie, Countess of Wessex on Armistice Day in 2021.
A fifth visit was made by Sophie, Countess of Wessex on Armistice Day - 11th November 2021
Bedworth was delighted to welcome Sophie Countess of Wessex.
Ours is the only town in the UK to have consistently recognised the Armistice at the exact hour, day and month each year since the First World War. It is now the largest Armistice parade in Britain. Crowds thronged All Saints Square and the streets beyond to mark a special day and to catch a glimpse of the Royal visitor.
The Countess arrived at the Almshouse accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Warwickshire Tim Cox and was greeted by dignatories. They included the Mayor of Nuneaton and Bedworth Councillor Rob Tromans and the Mayoress, Craig Tracy MP, former MP and Government Minister Mike O’Brien. Church leaders, members of the military, and organisers of the Armistice. The daughter of the Almshouse Scheme Manager presented the Countess with a posy of white flowers.
After pausing to say a few words to residents who were watching from the cloister, the Countess joined the procession to the Cenatoph in the Coventry Road Cemetery for the service of Remembrance.
