Prince Edward in NI

The Earl of Wessex has today presented thirteen inmates at Hydebank Young Offenders’ Centre in Belfast with Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) award certificates.

HRH was greeted by Mr David Lindsay, HM Lord-Lieutenant of County Down and went on to meet Mr David Ford MLA, Minister of the Department of Justice; Mr Colin McConnell, Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service; and Governor Gary Alcock, Hydebank Young Offenders’ Centre.

Before the award ceremony His Royal Highness, accompanied by Governor Alcock, visited residential accommodation within the centre and took the opportunity to meet a number of inmates and prison staff.

His Royal Highness went on to meet with the award winning inmates and in the company of Ms Valerie Pitman OBE, DofE Officer from the Probation Board of Northern Ireland and invited guests, presented the coveted awards in recognition of each inmate’s outstanding achievements.

Prince Edward was presented with a gift of Belfast crystal and later accepted an invitation to sign the visitors’ book.

His Royal Highness was greeted by:

• David Lindsay, HM Lord-Lieutenant of County Down,
• The Worshipful the Mayor of Castlereagh,
• Stephen Reid, Chief Executive, Castlereagh Borough Council,
• David Ford, Minister of the NI Department of Justice,
• Nick Perry, Permanent Secretary, NI Department of Justice,
• Colin McConnell, Director-General, Northern Ireland Prison Service,
• Gary Alcock, Governor, Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre.

Later His Royal Highness, on the third engagement of the day, visited The Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road, Belfast, to celebrate the success of the Belfast Activity Centre (BAC) with their ‘Youth Building Programmes’.

HRH was greeted by Dame Mary Peters DBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast.

HRH accompanied by Ms Julie Andrews, General Manager, Spectrum Centre met representatives of the Greater Shankill Partnership Board, local community representatives, FASA/”Safe Together” suicide awareness group, funders and supporters, and Sure Start/Early Years representatives.

Moving to the Projection Gallery HRH met Mr Bobby Foster, Spectrum Centre Events manager and a number of centre staff.

Following the presentations HRH accepted an invitation from Mr Tom Scott OBE, Chair Greater Shankill Partnership Board to unveil a plaque commemorating the visit.

HRH was presented with a gift of Irish Linen, Shankill Motif, by Ms Zoe Warnock, a student at the Girls' Model School and a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award participant.

Prince Edward was greeted by Dame Mary Peters DBE, HM Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast and went on to meet:

• Councillor William Humphrey MLA, Deputy Lord Mayor, Belfast City Council,
• Councillor Ian Adamson OBE, Sheriff for the County Borough of Belfast,
• Mr Nigel Dodds MP, MP for North Belfast,
• Mr Alex Attwood MLA, Minister, NI Department for Social Development,
• Mr Nelson McCausland MLA, Minister, NI Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure,
• Mrs Rosalie Flanagan, Permanent Secretary, NI Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure,
• Mr Tom Scott OBE, Chair, Greater Shankill Partnership Board,
• Mr Tom Winston, Chair, The Spectrum Board,
• Mr Jackie Redpath MBE, Chief Executive, Greater Shankill Partnership Board,
• Ms Julie Andrews, General Manager, Spectrum Centre,
• Mr Stephen Dickson, BAC Chief Executive Officer.