Loughborough College students ensured Royal protocol was followed to the letter when they raised the personal Standard of Prince Edward for the official opening of the Arts Academy and Hub.
At the moment His Royal Highness’s motorcade appeared on campus Public Services students took their signal and set the flag flying high as the Earl of Wessex arrived at the entrance.
David Timson, Cadet to Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant Lady Gretton – who accompanied the Royal party – stepped forward in Royal Air Force uniform to open the car door and salute the prince.
Loughborough College Principal and Chief Executive Esme Winch led the tour of the new £15m facility which featured a range of student performance and creative work and culminated in the unveiling of a unique soundwave print, taken from a recording made by the Earl of Wessex in one of the Arts Academy’s studios and commemorating the official opening.
The prince was joined by Equerry to His Royal Highness, Colonel Paul Arengo-Jones and dignitaries including The Chairman of Leicestershire County Council Mr David Snartt and his wife, The Mayor of the Borough of Charnwood, Councillor John Capleton and The Mayoress, Loughborough College Chair of Governors Audrey Traynor and Vice Principal Yiannis Koursis,
As the Earl of Wessex departed, he acknowledged Loughborough College students as they lowered his personal Standard.
Public Services tutor Perry Smith said: “The students really enjoyed taking such a responsible role at such a high profile event.
“After studying the theory in their subject, it enabled them to get first hand experience of a high-security operation as well as to gain a valuable insight into the career roles surrounding that which are open to them.
“It was great for the students to have Prince Edward’s acknowledgement as he passed.”
Public Services students who participated in the official raising and lowering of the personal Standard of His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex were:
Kayleigh Lang, Sam Harding, Dan Cox, Remi Rainford, Dan Clarke, Will Hurrell, Tim Staples, Leandra McCurry, Paula Croker, Sam Follows, Josh Walker, Scott Jordan, Danielle Werra, Jake Towell and Scott Bradley