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ROYAL VISIT
On 25th March 2009, the foundry received a royal visit from Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, the first visit by a reigning monarch in 90 years.
Excitement over the visit had been building all week among the foundry staff, what with the advance visits by police, sniffer dogs and security staff, and all the extra cleaning, tidying and preparation that needed to be done.
The royal visitors were shown around the foundry by Alan & Kathryn Hughes and seemed genuinely interested in what they saw.
The royal couple witnessed the casting of handbells, the forging of a clapper top by our blacksmith, and many other aspects of bell manufacturing.
At the end of the visit, the Queen was presented with flowers and a small handbell, the Duke with a small handbell and a pair of bell-metal paperweights bearing the foundry crest.
By the time the royals came to leave a large crowd of press and onlookers had gathered outside the front entrance of the foundry. As the Queen emerged a spontaneous cheer went up accompanied by the flashing of scores of cameras. This was not a day anyone at the foundry will soon forget.
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