Jovial Prince Charles opens Malmesbury care centre

7:43pm Friday 21st November 2008

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Prince Charles joked at journalists’ expense whilst opening Malmesbury’s Athelstan House and Primary Care Centre today.

Unable to get out of his way due to a locked door, seven reporters and photographers were ushered into a small sitting room and left to stare through the class as Prince walked by.

Pausing briefly, the Prince inquired through the glass: “Are you in quarantine?”

The joke set the tone for a warm and friendly afternoon spent meeting residents and staff at the Malmesbury Care Complex, which was built on the site of the Malmesbury Community Hospital.

Arriving at just after 3pm in an Audi estate the Prince, dressed in a grey suit, blue shirt and tan brown overcoat, greeted well wishers from King’s Day Nursery who were waiting outside.

Sarah Raines, who was with children from the nursery, said the Prince commented on the prams they were pushing.

She said: “He pointed to our prams and said they should bring back the old fashioned ones with the children facing backwards.

“He said it was in the news this morning. He also said what nice hats the children were wearing.”

His Royal Highness then greeted the Lord Lietenant of Wiltshire John Bush, and other dignitaries including Mayor of Malmesbury, Andrew Woodcock, who welcomed him to Athelstan House.

Getting a tour of the premises from house manager Charlotte Sievewright the Prince took time to speak to on duty nurses Davina Woods and Jane Lovelock.

After hearing that shifts can last between eight and 14 hours the Prince said: “You must be exhausted, I hope I’m not holding you up.”

The Prince moved on to meet Arthur Blott, 84, who showed him his new touch screen computer, which had been installed in his bedroom.

Mr Blott said: “Meeting him was a chance of a lifetime, especially at my age.

“I showed him photographs of my family, he was wonderful.”

The Prince then joined in a dice game of Beetle Drive with Betty Chaplin, 90, and other residents.

Mrs Chaplin described the Prince as a ‘natural’. She said: “I asked him to throw the dice for me and he got a five. “He didn’t do badly.

“I love all the royals. He is such a natural and he was so kind. He even asked whether my bed was comfortable.”

After taking half an hour to have a cup of tea and mingle with friends of Athelstan House in the large coffee lounge the Prince then unveiled a plaque commemorating the official opening.

He said: “I would just like to say I’m so pleased to have had this brief opportunity to meet the residents here and also the caring staff who put such effort into looking after people here.

“It’s good to hear residents comment that they are being looked after so well.

“It gives me great pleasure to unveil this plaque. I wonder quite where it is going to end up.”

He added: “I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas when it comes.”

The Prince then crossed the complex car park to meet staff and residents of the Primary Care Centre.

He met nurses and patients receiving physiotherapy before unveiling another plaque where received a generous round of applause from assembled guests.

As darkness closed in around 5pm he said his goodbye’s and was driven away from Malmesbury up to his Highgrove estate.