DIANA, Princess of Wales has been the subject of much television and newspaper coverage in the last couple of weeks ahead of the 20th anniversary of her death on August 31, 1997 in a road crash in France. She came to Craven twice in the 1980s, Lesley Tate looks back at the visits.

IN September, 1986, HRH, Diana, Princess of Wales made her first visit to North Yorkshire since marrying Prince Charles, touring the Greenfoot residential home and care centre at Settle and Castleberg Hospital at Giggleswick.

Crowds gathered at vantage points long before she was due to arrive. The visit had been instigated by North Craven resident and television presenter, Russell Harty, and it was rumoured at the time she might soon appear on one of his chat shows.

The Princess arrived at Settle Railway Station where she was met by the Vice Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, Major General HG Woods.

Also on the platform were the Clapham family, who lived at Station House. Ten year old Heidi Clapham, a pupil at Settle Middle School, presented the princess with a posy of flowers, but was too shy to say anything. It was left to her parents, Chris and Lynne, and grandmother, Joyce, to have a brief chat to the royal visitor.

Diana travelled from the station to Greenfoot in a silver grey Bentley, passing cheering and waving crowds on her way.

At Greenfoot, a crowd of around 600 had gathered, and instead of gong first to the waiting official line up, the princess headed to the crowds first.

Following a tour of the home, she moved onto Castleberg Hospital, where 500 people had been given 'privilege passes' and hundreds of others were waiting to get a glimpse of the people's princess.

She spoke to many members of staff and signed the visitors' book before ending her visit to North Craven with a walkabout at Giggleswick School from where she departed by helicopter.

Three years later, on December 14, 1989, she was back in the area to officially open the newly extended Child Development Centre at Steeton's Airedale Hospital.

The £74,000 extension had been funded, in part, by public donation, and the Princess had agreed to carry out the opening following a letter written to the royal household by Janet Holdsworth, from Addingham.

Janet had first hand experience of the care offered as her five year old daughter, Alice had attended the centre.

The day itself was far from perfect, and Diana was met with sleet and snow. She arrived at the hospital slightly late, and chatted to the ever present waiting crowds before entering the building.

Once inside, she was met by regional health authority chairman Sir Brian Askew, Airedale Health Authority chairman, Donald Hanson, district general manager, David Russell and consultant paediatrician, Ken Wilkinson.

In the centre itself, she spent time talking to members of staff, parents and children, and also to some of the fundraisers who had helped raise the money needed for the extension.

Before leaving, she unveiled a commemorative plaque - made by Cross Hills engraver, John Trevor Mitchell - and signed the visitors' book.

Those who chatted to the princess at the time described her to the Craven Herald as 'delightful and charming' with a genuine interest in everything.