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.
