NORTH Wiltshire is all set to roll out the red carpet tomorrow when the Queen pays her first official visit to Chippenham, Calne and Malmesbury.
The groundbreaking tour will begin shortly before 11am when the Queen steps down at Chippenham Station from the 9.45am First Great Western train from London Paddington.
The station has been given a lick of paint in readiness for her arrival, but officials stress that it will be business as usual and say there should be no disruption to regular rail services.
At first light, station staff will sweep round making sure the platforms are litter-free before the red carpet is rolled out.
Among those waiting to welcome the royal guests will be the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, Sir Maurice Johnston. They will also be introduced to station manager Lynn Edginton, whose five-year-old niece Jenna Pearce, will hand over a colourful posy to the Queen.
Royal-watchers will be able to catch a glimpse of the Queen in front of the station as she walks to a limousine that will whisk her off to her first engagement in Calne.
Prince Phillip, meanwhile, will head by car for Wiltshire College Chippenham, where he will meet students taking a public service course who are destined for the Armed Forces or emergency services.
The 30 16 to 19-year-olds, many of whom have taken part in the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, will put their practical skills to the test and demonstrate their bridge building skills.
Principal George Bright said he had thought long and hard about making the most of the royal opportunity. "We wanted to give him a flavour of what the college is about," said Mr Bright.
"It is an opportunity to show him something of what the young people do and this is a course which is all about team work."
Mr Bright, the chairman of the governors, Geoff Burgess, and the chairman of the Chippenham student association, Alastair Colley, will greet the prince as he arrives shortly after 11am.
Work will have already been done to ensure the building is looking shipshape. "The college always looks tidy, but we will make sure any rubbish is cleared and it is looking its best," said Mr Bright.
There will be a short tour that will give Prince Phillip the chance to talk to staff and students in the student refectory before meeting the bridge building team.
Using planks and barrels, the public services students will build a working bridge in the main hall.
"These students will have something in common with Prince Phillip who was in the Royal Navy," said Mr Bright, who met the Duke of Edinburgh when he opened the third West Wiltshire Show in 1993. Mr Bright was then the principal of Trowbridge College.
"They all want to go into the services either the Army or the Navy, police, fire or ambulance and will be able to chat freely with him about the uniformed services.
"Everyone is looking forward to the visit and we hope Prince Phillip will be able to find out about further education in Chippenham."
Prince Phillip's next destination will be the town's newest school, where normal lessons will be largely abandoned amid the excitement of the occasion.
Abbeyfield School, in Stanley Lane, officially opened in September and will celebrate its future with the royal visit.
Headteacher Trish Shubrook and chairman of the governors Roger Hammond will welcome Prince Phillip to the school at around 11.40am. Mrs Shubrook said: "We are really looking forward to the event and feel very privileged to welcome his Royal Highness to our school."
The prince will be taken on a brief tour of part of the school including the learning centre. Catering staff and students, who are to lay on lunch for the royal party later in the day, will be introduced to the prince.
His next task will be to unveil a plaque in front of pupils, staff and invited guests. The plaque, which will eventually be put up in the reception, has been placed on a temporary stand in the sports hall.
School administrator Lynda Stuart said: "There would be no room in reception to conduct the unveiling so we have set something up for the occasion."
Prince Phillip is expected to be at the school for 45 minutes before he makes his way by car to the Chippenham Museum and Heritage Centre. Once there he will be met by centre manager Mike Stone, administration assistant Beverley Hoff and wardens Pat Paine and Mike Bagwell.
The royal visitor will be invited to unveil a plaque that will mark the start of the next phase of development at the heritage centre.
Lottery money will allow the centre to build a lecture room, an office for a full-time education officer, a public research room and flexible storage rooms in the attics.
Mr Stone said he was looking forward to showing Prince Phillip what the future held in store for the heritage centre.
"The future of the centre is exciting and we are pleased our Royal visitor will take some interest in what we are trying to do," said Mr Stone.
At the end of the tour, Prince Phillip will be joined by the Queen and together they will walk, weather permitting, from the heritage centre to Chippenham Town Hall where they will be introduced to staff and town councillors.
After signing the visitors book the Queen and Prince Phillip will leave for Malmesbury.
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