The Princess Royal Opens The Roundhouse
Derby, United Kingdom, October 08, 2010 --(PR.com)-- The Princess Royal has officially opened Derby College’s £48 million vocational campus at The Roundhouse.
The Roundhouse, which combines restored former railway engineering buildings, including the 18th century Roundhouse itself, with new contemporary buildings dedicated to the well-known historic figures linked to its proud past, is now home to more than 2,500 students who come to College to learn vital vocational skills from engineering and business to hair and beauty and catering.
As The Princess Royal arrived at The Roundhouse, four College students who are also members of the 348 Ilkeston Air Cadets lowered the Union Jack on the flagpole outside The Roundhouse and raised the Royal Standard. They were Daniel Alsbury (16), Matthew Ashley (18) and Jake Bryan (17) all from Ilkeston and Milo Horsley (16) from Heanor.
The Princess Royal was met on arrival by 23 Student Ambassadors – representing of a wide range of courses based at the College including Childcare, Beauty Therapy, Engineering, Public Services, Sport, Horticulture, Business, A levels, Performing Arts, Music, Construction and Professional Cooker – many dressed in the uniforms and kit that they wear as part of their courses.
Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, the Princess Royal then met the College Principal, David Croll; Chair of Governors Brian Powell; Steve Logan, Head of The Roundhouse and other staff and governors.
She entered through the iconic Roundhouse door which has a picture of a steam train etched into the glass to meet representatives from Bowmer & Kirkland, the main contractors at The Roundhouse and Maber architects.
As she walked into the Learning Centre and Library, she listened to College music tutor and professional flautist Kate Rounding who played the musical score of the Steam Train Hornpipe – written at the time of The Roundhouse’s construction in the 1830’s whose score is etched into the glass of the Learning Centre which is house in the former Carriage Shop of The Roundhouse.
There she met students from a wide range of College courses from Beauty Therapy and childcare to sport and construction who will talk about their work at the College, with businesses and in the local community.
The Princess Royal then visited the Engineering Academy where she met meet one of the youngest apprentices who attends College - Luke Beardsley (18) from Kirk Hallam who attends the College’s Engineering Academy at The Roundhouse as part of his apprenticeship with Atlas Composites in Ilkeston; as well as Peter Howe (68) who went to work at The Roundhouse as a 15-year-old apprentice in 1957 and worked on the railways until 1971.
The Princess Royal went onto meet Professional Cookery students at work at the College’s Engine Shed training kitchens and restaurant before being invited to cut a cake, specially made and decorated with chocolate artwork depicting the history of The Roundhouse by Executive Head Chef Shirley Sweeney.
It was then on to meet fashion and retail students who showed The Princess Royal, who is President of the UK Fashion and Textile Industry, their work on High Street and original catwalk fashion designs. Among the students she will met was blind learner Lucy Jones (20) who studies art and design supported by a wide range of specialist learning resources.
From there, The Princess Royal walked along the boulevard, lined with students, and into The Roundhouse itself where she was shown the original ashpits which can be seen through the toughened glass floor and then be invited onto the stage where she will unveil a plaque commemorating the official opening of the campus.
She was presented with a posy made by floristry student Heather May Carter (19) from Chaddesden and then thanked the College for their hospitality before signing the visitors book and then leaving The Roundhouse.
Derby College Principal David Croll said: “It seems only yesterday that I was standing just about here looking around at this derelict building watched only by the pigeons who had taken up residency (and left their rather messy legacy behind them)
“Our vision was to bring this magnificent building back to its former glory as the centrepiece for a centre of vocational excellence.
“We have certainly achieved that vision and all this would not have been possible without our funders, architects, building contractors, the local authority and of course my dedicated team of staff here at the College.
“We have already won numerous awards for the restoration of this site but today is a milestone as we mark the official Royal opening of The Roundhouse and celebrate its future.
“The Roundhouse is now a 21st century learning environment to support young people and employees of some of the leading local businesses as they gain the skills to enable them to contribute to the economic development of this wonderful region.”
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The Roundhouse, which combines restored former railway engineering buildings, including the 18th century Roundhouse itself, with new contemporary buildings dedicated to the well-known historic figures linked to its proud past, is now home to more than 2,500 students who come to College to learn vital vocational skills from engineering and business to hair and beauty and catering.
As The Princess Royal arrived at The Roundhouse, four College students who are also members of the 348 Ilkeston Air Cadets lowered the Union Jack on the flagpole outside The Roundhouse and raised the Royal Standard. They were Daniel Alsbury (16), Matthew Ashley (18) and Jake Bryan (17) all from Ilkeston and Milo Horsley (16) from Heanor.
The Princess Royal was met on arrival by 23 Student Ambassadors – representing of a wide range of courses based at the College including Childcare, Beauty Therapy, Engineering, Public Services, Sport, Horticulture, Business, A levels, Performing Arts, Music, Construction and Professional Cooker – many dressed in the uniforms and kit that they wear as part of their courses.
Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Derbyshire, the Princess Royal then met the College Principal, David Croll; Chair of Governors Brian Powell; Steve Logan, Head of The Roundhouse and other staff and governors.
She entered through the iconic Roundhouse door which has a picture of a steam train etched into the glass to meet representatives from Bowmer & Kirkland, the main contractors at The Roundhouse and Maber architects.
As she walked into the Learning Centre and Library, she listened to College music tutor and professional flautist Kate Rounding who played the musical score of the Steam Train Hornpipe – written at the time of The Roundhouse’s construction in the 1830’s whose score is etched into the glass of the Learning Centre which is house in the former Carriage Shop of The Roundhouse.
There she met students from a wide range of College courses from Beauty Therapy and childcare to sport and construction who will talk about their work at the College, with businesses and in the local community.
The Princess Royal then visited the Engineering Academy where she met meet one of the youngest apprentices who attends College - Luke Beardsley (18) from Kirk Hallam who attends the College’s Engineering Academy at The Roundhouse as part of his apprenticeship with Atlas Composites in Ilkeston; as well as Peter Howe (68) who went to work at The Roundhouse as a 15-year-old apprentice in 1957 and worked on the railways until 1971.
The Princess Royal went onto meet Professional Cookery students at work at the College’s Engine Shed training kitchens and restaurant before being invited to cut a cake, specially made and decorated with chocolate artwork depicting the history of The Roundhouse by Executive Head Chef Shirley Sweeney.
It was then on to meet fashion and retail students who showed The Princess Royal, who is President of the UK Fashion and Textile Industry, their work on High Street and original catwalk fashion designs. Among the students she will met was blind learner Lucy Jones (20) who studies art and design supported by a wide range of specialist learning resources.
From there, The Princess Royal walked along the boulevard, lined with students, and into The Roundhouse itself where she was shown the original ashpits which can be seen through the toughened glass floor and then be invited onto the stage where she will unveil a plaque commemorating the official opening of the campus.
She was presented with a posy made by floristry student Heather May Carter (19) from Chaddesden and then thanked the College for their hospitality before signing the visitors book and then leaving The Roundhouse.
Derby College Principal David Croll said: “It seems only yesterday that I was standing just about here looking around at this derelict building watched only by the pigeons who had taken up residency (and left their rather messy legacy behind them)
“Our vision was to bring this magnificent building back to its former glory as the centrepiece for a centre of vocational excellence.
“We have certainly achieved that vision and all this would not have been possible without our funders, architects, building contractors, the local authority and of course my dedicated team of staff here at the College.
“We have already won numerous awards for the restoration of this site but today is a milestone as we mark the official Royal opening of The Roundhouse and celebrate its future.
“The Roundhouse is now a 21st century learning environment to support young people and employees of some of the leading local businesses as they gain the skills to enable them to contribute to the economic development of this wonderful region.”
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Contact
Derby College
Sarah Jenkin-Jones
01332 387426
www.derby-college.ac.uk
Sarah Jenkin-Jones
01332 387426
www.derby-college.ac.uk
Contact
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