Newbury Weekly News

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Thursday, May 11, 2017
THE Queen and the Duke of
Edinburgh were the guests of
honour at Pangbourne College
to help celebrate its centenary
this week.
The royal couple met staff,
students and parents during the
visit on Tuesday and attended a
special service in the Falkland
Islands Memorial Chapel, which
was opened by the Queen in 2000.
Among the guests was the
oldest surviving Pangbournian,
Keith Evans.
The 97-year-old served with the
Duke of Edinburgh during the
Second World War, when the pair
were both lieutenants at a shore
station, HMS Royal Arthur, in
Warwick.
“I like him,” said Mr Evans,
who now lives in Hazelmere with
his wife Heather.
“He was 18 months my junior.
He was the Lieutenant Mountbat-
ten because they’d got rid of all
that Greek nonsense.
“He was a bit randy. Obviously
the history of the man is extraor-
dinary.”
The veteran had the chance to
reminisce with the Duke and
showed him letters sent between
the two men after Prince Philip’s
engagement.
Following the thanksgiving
service, which was conducted by
The Right Reverend Dr Michael
Nazir-Ali, former Bishop of
Rochester, the royal party spent
time chatting to staff, parents and
pupils, who were all dressed in
their Number Ones cadet
uniform.
The Duke of Edinburgh, who
was appearing in public for the
first time since announcing his
retirement from royal duties
later this year, stopped and spoke
to Harry Edwards, one of the
young pupils lining the path.
“He asked me what the coloured
badges meant,” Harry said. “I told
him they were to show our houses,
I’m in Starboard.”
After lunch the Queen signed a
guest book, before joining the
large crowds for a college parade.
She then presented HM The
Queen’s Gold Medal to the college’s
head boy, Frederick Taucher, and
head girl, Ellen White, and new
military colours to the college.
Pangbourne College headmas-
ter Thomas Garnier said: “Philip
was on quite good form. He was
interested in the pupils.
“The college has no formal link
with the armed forces, but there’s
a ceremonial link and I think he
felt in tune with that.”
The school, in Pangbourne
Hill, was opened in 1917 as a
training base for officers in the
Merchant Navy.
The Queen and the Duke of
Edinburgh last visited in June
2007 to commemorate the 25th
anniversary of the end of the
Falklands conflict.
The chairman of West Berkshire
Council Quentin Webb, who was a
guest at the ceremony, said that
Prince Philip took a great interest
in his chairman’s medallion, lift-
ing it up to take a closer look.
He said: “I would say there
were no jokes, but it was noted
that he was interested as he
picked it up and looked at it. One
didn’t know whether he knew
everything and it was just a test.
“He was very sprightly and on
the money when it came to every-
thing that was required as far as
the college was concerned.
“At his age that he has contin-
ued to be the Queen’s escort is
remarkable to be doing that for
that length of time.
“It was an honour and a plea-
sure to be at the centenary of
Pangbourne College and to see all
the cadets in full uniform and the
presentation of the new colours.”
n To see our full gallery of
photographs visit newburyto-
Report by SARAH BOSLEY
email sarah.bosley@newbur
Queen and Prince Philip join
Pangbourne College centenary
College receives newmilitarycolours aspartofcelebrations
TheQueen presents TheQueen’sGoldMedal tothe
college’sheadboy, Frederick Taucher, andheadgirl,Ellen
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TheQueen presented thecollege withnewmilitar y
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Prince Philip andWestBerkshire Council chairman
QuentinWebb Ref:19-2017AG
Prince Philip reminisces withKeith Evans,whoserved
with theDukeonHMSRoyalArthur
Newbury Weekly News