The Prince of Wales’s lifelong contribution to rural life celebrated in Countryside Parade
Posted on: 12 June, 2018
Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall attended the Prince’s Countryside Parade, held at the Royal Cornwall Show (Thursday 7th June).
The Parade was comprised of 58 of HRH’s rural patronages including University College of Estate Management, made up of 450 volunteers (and 40 animals), split in to six sections representing all parts of rural life, from waterways, to livestock, to food and farming. The Parade was held to a soundtrack of the Band of the Royal Marines and the Cornish male voice choirs and narrated by Phil Vickery MBE and JB Gill.
The Parade culminated in Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall being presented with an oak tree and a two month old Boreray lamb named Bryher, led in the Parade and bred in Cornwall by local farmer Jowan Bobin. At 15, Jowan is the youngest member of the Cornwall Rare Breeds Survival Trust Support Group committee.
The Boreray sheep, also known as the Boreray Blackface or Hebridean Blackface, is the smallest and rarest of all the UK’s native sheep breeds. Though still the most endangered, since HRH became the Patron of the Rare Breeds Survival Trust in 1978 the Boreray has changed from being a category one critical breed, to being a category three Vulnerable breed.
Georgia Haines, Apprentice Student Experience Administrator, UCEM said, “It was an honour to be part of the parade and to meet HRH, The Prince of Wales for his 70th birthday. He asked me how my apprenticeship was going, and I got to share with him about the work I do at UCEM. It was a great experience.”
Following the Parade, Their Royal Highnesses attended an afternoon tea to meet with many of the volunteers, supporters, and parade participants.
His Royal Highness also thanked the generous sponsors of the afternoon including Jaguar Land Rover, Rodda’s, Ginsters, Dairy Crest, South West Water, and the Eden Project. The event was also supported by volunteers from Pendennis, Duchy College and local rotary club. It was delivered by HPower in partnership with The Prince’s Countryside Fund and Royal Cornwall Agricultural Association.
Image: Georgia Haines meeting HRH, Prince of Wales.
