When the Duke of Edinburgh met Skipton pupils during a trip to Yorkshire

THERE was 'considerable interest' 50 years ago in Craven with the arrival of His Royal Highness, the Duke of Edinburgh.

The Duke was on a three day visit to Yorkshire in connection with his new 'awards' scheme, and although he did not actually visit Craven, many young people from the area were involved.

His Yorkshire Tour, in May, 1967. included visits to Bewerley Park Outdoor Pursuits Centre, near Pateley Bridge, still very much a place where Craven schoolchildren go on residential trips, and to the West Riding College of Education at Bretton Hall, near Wakefield. At both locations he met and chatted with a number of people from Craven, including some taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.

It was particularly memorable for eight pupils from Aireville Secondary School - now Skipton Academy - who took part in exhibitions at Bretton Hall and were able to chat with the Duke as he toured the college's playing fields. The Aireville pupils were accompanied by members of staff, Mr Monkhouse, Mr Phillip, and Mrs Walker, all of who were interested in outdoor pursuits. Mr Monkhouse said it had been thought that the Duke would tour the grounds in a Land Rover, but in the end he went on foot. And despite the large number of side shows and a tight schedule, he appeared to have 'all the time in the world'.

The Aireville group had camped out overnight in the college grounds and as the Duke toured the rows of tents, the Skipton party was in the process of cooking lunch. It was a typical camp lunch of sausage and mash. Two of the students, Leslie Haworth and Stuart Hodgson, were busily engaged in preparing the meal when the Duke stopped to ask them what they were cooking. Leslie replied: "Peas and 'taties.. I mean potatoes." The Duke laughed, and remarked: "Rice pudding for afters?" Further along the row of tents, three more Skipton students, Margaret Peel, Christine Thornton and Linda Heseltine, were frying sausages. The Duke made a comment about camp meals and how they had improved over the years. In his camping days, it had always been 'bangers and beans'.

The Duke was also concerned as to whether the Skipton party had had a good night in camp. Unfortunately, they had not. On their arrival in the afternoon, they had just pitched tent when there was a terrific thunderstorm. They managed to settle down, however, and in the evening had sat around a camp fire. Later, the Duke walked to the lakeside where he saw a life saving demonstration carried out by Aireville pupils. All members of the group were excellent swimmers having achieved their bronze medallion of the Royal Life Saving Society. The young people demonstrated their prowess in rescuing a drowning person, and as they returned to the side of the lake to dry themselves, the Duke stopped again for a chat.

At Bewerley Park, the Duke showed great interest in the work of the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association. The then chairman, Len Huff, of Grassington, said the Duke had been very well informed about rescue work and showed great interest in the association's new equipment. He also spoke to the Dales Assessment Panel of the awards scheme, including Paul Reinsch of Grassington, Alan Stockdale, Burnsall, and Mr Jollif, a teacher at Aireville School. After watching teenagers practice 'Eskimo' rolls in canoes in the college's heated pool, the Duke met Will Procter, the Dales National Park warden, and his assistant, Joe Shevelon. He also met Mr Clayton, president of the UWFRA, and Reg Hainsworth and Dr Hyslop, of the Settle-Ingleton rescue team. Between them, they described the mountain rescue posts throughout the country and explained the problems peculiar to the Craven area when rescue operations were in force. John Burns, 25, from Cononley, a member of the UWFRA, viewed the Duke from a horizontal position, as he was encased in a specially adapted heavy rubber survival suit, with which the Duke was familiar. "What's it like in there?" he asked, to which Mr Burns replied "rather warm, sir." The Duke then joked that he might like to have a bite of grass while he was down there on the ground. Numerous other members of the association described the techniques involved in a full scale pothole rescue. The Duke was particularly interested in a sling used to save small animals, such as lambs. Mr Huff, a UWFRA member, said he had found the Duke very easy to talk to. "He was very informal, and seemed to take a personal interest in everything he was shown."