ALTHOUGH the Duke of Edinburgh has agreed to drive one of Wadworth's drays through the town centre next Tuesday, there is some controversy over his pulling a pint of 6X in the licensees' training centre.

Prince Philip will arrive at Wadworth Brewery shortly before noon, having landed by helicopter at Wiltshire police headquarters. He will meet local VIPs including Mayor of Devizes Paula Winchcombe, chairman of Kennet District Council Peter Veasey and Deputy Chief Constable Peter Vaughan.

From the car park in New Park Street, he will be ushered into the brewery and be given a tour of the building. The brewery will be in full swing on the day and the Duke will be able to see the process of producing the nationally renowned beer as it happens.

He will meet cooper Alastair Simms, one of only eight men in the country making oak barrels in a centuries-old process.

He will see Wadworth's new licensee training centre, at the former White Lion public house, but there is some doubt as to whether he will be asked to pull a pint and be photographed while he does it.

There was some sucking of teeth among the Duke's minders at Buckingham Palace and Wadworth had not been told at the time of going to press whether he will do the honours or not.

Following the tour, he will be taken around the stables across the road in Northgate Gardens, to meet the company's four shire horses, Barron, Buscot, Royal and Tom.

Here he will unveil a plaque commemorating his visit and receive a statuette of Alastair Simms trimming one of his barrels. The statuette was commissioned by Wadworth from local sculptors Peter Hicks Associates.

After lunch in a marquee outside the stable block, the Duke is then expected climb into the driving seat of Wadworth's oldest dray, the one that came with their first team of horses re-introduced by the company's then chairman and managing director, Major John Bartholomew.

Shortly before 2pm, the Duke will drive the dray drawn by Barron and Buscot through the Market Place, into High Street and pull up outside Edwin Giddings, Wadworth's wine and spirits shop, where he will transfer to a car that will take him to the new Crammer Court sheltered accommodation in Church Walk.

After meeting members of Sarsen Housing Association, who planned the redevelopment, as well as representatives of the architects and builders, he will be shown around a number of the flats, plant a tree and unveil a plaque.

One of those to be introduced to the Duke is Margaret Pearce, the longest-standing tenant of Crammer Court.

Mrs Pearce, 85, has been living at the sheltered flats for 15-and-a-half years, apart from the period during which the old building was demolished and the new one built, when she lived at Stanford Court in Sheep Street.

She said: "I didn't really want to move back because one upheaval was enough for me. But I am glad to be back here. It is very nice and I am getting to know all my new neighbours."

Mrs Pearce is filled with trepidation about meeting the Duke on Tuesday. She said: "I don't like fuss. It will be very nice to meet him, but I'd much rather stay in the background."

Despite her seniority at Crammer Court, Mrs Pearce remains active and is always baking cakes for social events at the sheltered flats.

The new Crammer Court has 50 one- and two-bedroom flats as well as facilities like a caf and hobbies room. The old one comprised 28 bedsits and seven bungalows. Funding for the rebuild came from Sarsen Housing Association, Kennet District Council and the Housing Corporation.

Demolition began in November 2002 and building was complete by March 2004.

It is the first visit by the Duke since July 24 1956 when he again arrived by helicopter, this time at Le Marchant Barracks to help celebrate the bicentenary of the Wiltshire Regiment.

On that occasion he presented medals to Sgt R J Minty and Regimental Sergeant Major R G Tomkins.

He reviewed a parade of 45 recruits, 40 of them National Service conscripts.

The first battalion, which was based at Le Marchant Barracks, was then stationed in Cyprus, which was under attack by the Eoka terrorist group at the time.

Forty-eight years later, terrorism is still a problem but security on the Duke's tour will be as unobtrusive as possible so that he can meet local people face to face.