Royal visit brightens up the day

From the archive, first published Thursday 9th Nov 2000.

The Queen delighted VIPs, students, military cadets, schoolchildren and tourists during a five-hour visit to Oxford yesterday.

She unveiled two student blocks, enjoyed a walkabout and opened a new building for armed forces cadets.

The tour began at Oriel College's James Mellon Hall and the David Paterson House, in Rectory Road. The buildings include 67 rooms and mark the first time the college has been able to house all its undergraduates.

Wearing a deep lilac coat and hat, the Queen was met by her Lord Lieutenant for Oxfordshire, Hugo Brunner. She was welcomed to the college by the Provost, Dr Ernest Nicholson, and taken on a tour of rooms and kitchen facilities. Third-year English student William McQuillan, from Bangor, Northern Ireland, said: "She particularly admired the power shower."

In the common room, the Queen met the new scheme's benefactors and their families before moving into a marquee to meet students and college staff and unveil plaques.

Members of the public lined up along police barriers in Oriel Square for the short walkabout. Norman Williams, 63, of Wrexham, travels the country following the Queen's engagements. He was up at 5.30am to make the 200-mile trip to Oxford in the hope of a brief encounter - and his wishes came true as he was among the first the Queen spoke to.

He said afterwards: "It's worth all the travelling. She's a lovely lady. I saw her in Salford two weeks ago. This is my seventh meeting with her. I expect she does remember me after all this time."

After the walkabout, ten-year-old Melissa Worrell, of Peel Place, Oxford, handed a posy to the Queen. As This is Oxfordshire has reported, Melissa is a member of the Berry family, whose four generations have together given more than 110 years' service to Oriel College.

After lunch, the Queen went to Oxpens Road to open a 2.6m purpose-built home for the Oxford University Officers Training Corps - the first in the country to house 200 cadets from all three armed forces.

Nine-year-old Rachel Roberts, daughter of Regimental Sergeant Major Darren Roberts, gave her another posy as she arrived at Falklands House.

During her visit to the drill hall, the Queen saw army cadets demonstrate a small-arms computer simulator. Sergeant Major Dave Davies said: "She was interested and she wanted to see it work."

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