Sixways Stadium, the home of Worcester Warriors and Sixways Events, welcomed a very special guest on Tuesday (November 17) when HRH The Princess Royal toured the complex.
HRH Princess Anne was the special guest of the club and official unveil a plaque to commemorate the occasion as she learnt all about the club’s progress on the field and dedicated work off it with the local community and charities.
“It was a fantastic honour and great privilege for the club to welcome Princess Anne,” said Chairman Cecil Duckworth OBE.
“The visit went exceptionally well and she was very interested to hear how the club had developed and our plans to continue to grow in the future.
“We outlined our association with the amateur club, our community involvement and also dedicated work with local charities, such as Wooden Spoon, Acorns Children’s Hospice and Sense, something very close to her heart.
“She also met local schoolchildren who have used the Warriors Study Centre and learnt how we are using rugby and sport in education.
“It was a very memorable and historic day for Worcester Warriors and everyone connected with the club.”
Princess Anne was greeted on the morning of her arrival by the Lord-Lieutenant of Worcestershire, Michael Brinton, before meeting Chairman Cecil Duckworth OBE and being presented with a posy by Abigail Alcock, nine, a pupil at The King’s School a member of the club’s mini/junior section.
General Manager, Charlie Little, Director of Rugby, Mike Ruddock OBE, club captain, Pat Sanderson and Commercial Director, Kathy Leather, were all introduced to Princess Anne before she started an hour long tour of the Slick Systems Stand.
Following a photographic history of the club from 1871 through to the present day, that is now on show in the main corridor of the Slick Systems Stand; The Princess Royal met guests and members of the Warriors squad in the Business Club.
She was then given an opportunity to meet community projects and charities related to the club.
Warriors Study Centre Manager Glynn Lodge, Centre Teacher Matt Warne and Teaching Assistant Beverley Willett joined Year 6 students from Stanley Road Primary School and Cranham Drive Primary School to deliver a sample session from the PFS study support programme. The programme aims to tackle under achievement and raise the confidence and self-esteem of young learners.
Warriors Education Programme Co-ordinator, Dave Rogers, then presented to Princess Anne the ‘Something To Chew On’ programme, a Food Standards agency run educational scheme of work that has been piloted by two Premiership football clubs and is now being rolled out across all 12 Guinness Premiership clubs. The focus of the project is to stimulate the learning of health and dietary education with primary age school children.
The Royal party then moved onto local charities and met representatives from Sense, Wooden Spoon and Acorns Children’s Hospice.