PRINCE Charles proved he is a brolly good fellow when he did not let rain stand in the way of an informal walkabout on Friday.
He was visiting the Crofton Pumping Station, home to two of the oldest steam engines in the world dating from 1812 and 1845, on a day of downpours.
He arrived in a helicopter and, despite the gloomy skies, agreed to walk as planned the quarter of a mile along the Kennet and Avon Canal to the pumping station.
As the prince crossed over a narrow lock-gate walkway, the heavens opened. Holding aloft the royal umbrella, Prince Charles chatted to the onlookers.
He stopped briefly to chat to one of the Lord Lieutenant's cadets, 18-year-old Tim Spencer, from the Marlborough College Combined Cadet Force, and commented: "A horrible summer in England again, oh what a joy!"
At the pumping station, Prince Charles chatted with volunteers from the Crofton Society, whose members restored the engines.
Pumping station warden Reg Paynter said afterwards: "He was saying how wonderful the place is and that after nearly 200 years the engines can still do the job."
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