THE Prince of Wales pays his first official visit to Devizes and Crofton, near Burbage, on Friday May 23 to help celebrate the completion of more than 40 years of restoration work on the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Although the Queen has visited Devizes, and the Princess Royal has been to the town several times in the last 15 years, it will a first time visit for the Prince.

During his visit, the Prince will meet many of the volunteers whose enthusiasm and determination saved the canal from dereliction.

He was invited by the Kennet and Avon Canal Partnership, comprising British Waterways, the Kennet and Avon Canal Trust, the local authorities through whose areas the canal runs and the Association of Canal Enterprises.

It was this organisation that was successful in bidding for £25 million of Heritage Lottery funding to completely refurbish the 87 miles of canal from Bristol to Reading. Another £4 million was raised by the partnership.

The Prince is due to arrive at the British Waterways headquarters at the top of Caen Hill at 3pm tomorrow. He is scheduled to stay for 50 minutes before heading off to Crofton where he will arrive at 4.30pm.

At Caen Hill he will take a short trip in a canal boat through the lock where the Queen formerly reopened the canal in August 1990. He will then unveil a plaque commemorating his visit.

The organisers are also looking forward to welcoming decorated narrowboats from Reading and Bristol. The crews have been collecting signatures for a declaration of gratitude to the Queen for allowing the restoration to take place. In 1956 canal campaigners canoed from Bristol to London collecting signatures calling for the canal to be saved.

A House of Commons reception on May 13, attended by Devizes mayor, Coun Catherine Brown, marked the start of the journey of the declaration. On Saturday, the canal trust is throwing a big party at Devizes Wharf. John Laverick, refurbishment project manager, will cut a ribbon across the canal to open the event at 11am.