Meeting and Greeting

On Wednesday 20th October, HRH Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester paid a visit to Crich Tramway Village, where he is Patron.
Also in attendance were special guests, the HM Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire Mrs Elizabeth Fothergill CBE and Consort Mr Fothergill, Mayor of Amber Valley, Councillor David Taylor, and Consort Mrs Valerie Taylor.
Two Lord-Lieutenant’s Cadets, Cadet Colour Sergeant Claudia Gration and Cadet Colour Sergeant William Stelfox saluted the Duke on arrival and departure.

The special day focussed on Tramway Museum Society members and offered them a chance to find out more about the latest projects and future plans.
Tramway Museum Society Chairman, Karen Rigg and President Ian Ross, along with Crich Tramway Village General Manager, Dr Mike Galer, met the party on arrival. 

Cadetts from the Mercia Regiment
HRH meets Members of the Tramway Museum Society

HRH the Duke of Gloucester officially launched the latest tram restoration project, Newcastle 102, by driving it from the Workshop out onto the track, after instruction from Lead Instructor, Ian Rigg.

Ian Rigg - Lead Instructor shows HRH how to drive Newcastle 102
HRH drives Newcastle 102 - photo by Richard Sykes

After meeting some of the members, the Duke also toured the Exhibition Hall, which hosts a Century of Trams exhibition and an exhibition about History Maker, Michael Holroyd Smith, meeting the Curatorial Team and Vice Presidents of the Tramway Museum Society, before taking a further tram drive on Liverpool 869.
Karen Rigg said: “We were very pleased to welcome our Patron to the Museum once again and delighted that he launched our recent restoration project”.
Dr Mike Galer stated: “We were thrilled to offer this special day for our Members and take the opportunity to share our future plans”.

HRH meets the Curatorial Team in the Exhibition Hall
HRH meets Vice Presidents
HM Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire Mrs Elizabeth Fothergill CBE and Consort Mr Fothergill discuss the exhibits

After the Duke’s departure, The Mayor of Amber Valley, Councillor David Taylor, and Consort, Mrs Valerie Taylor, along with Cadet Colour Sergeant Claudia Gration and Cadet Colour Sergeant William Stelfox, had a go at driving Liverpool 869 under the careful tuition of Ian Rigg, Lead Instructor.

Councillor David Taylor
Mrs Taylor
Cadet Colour Sergeant Claudia Gration learns how to drive Liverpool 869
Cadet Colour Sergeant William Stelfox learns how to drive Liverpool 869

Crich Tramway Village is a brand name for the National Tramway Museum (Accredited with Arts Council England), solely owned and operated by The Tramway Museum Society, incorporated in England with liability by guarantee (no. 744229). Registered charity number 313615. Our ICO number is Z6700136.

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