Prince Edward in Ulster

His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex has arrived in the Province and has visited Belfast Activity Centre (BAC), Barnett Demesne, in Belfast joining the celebrations of the organisation's 21st birthday.

HRH was greeted by the Mrs Joan Christie OBE, HM Lord Lieutenant of County Antrim and went on to meet Glen Couser and Hannah Hamill, BAC participants who accompanied Prince Edward throughout the engagement.

In the Adventure Learning Park and cave chamber HRH met a group of visually impaired young people from the Royal National Institute for the Blind preparing for a cycling trip to Holland as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.

Nearby at the high ropes area HRH watched young people from Glenveagh Special School taking part in a number of activities as part of their DofE Bronze Award before meeting a number of Award participants and their parents.

Later in the Conference Suite the Earl of Wessex listened to a few words from the BAC Chairman, Tom Scott OBE, and the announcement of the formation of the Charitable Limited Company and a new team of BAC Ambassadors.

During lunch HRH had the opportunity to meet around seventy guests; later, Pamela Ballantine, a BAC Committee Member and television presenter, invited Prince Edward to view a montage of newsreel footage about BAC over the past 21 years.

Mr Scott went on to invite Ian McCluney, a young BAC participant, to present gifts of a waterproof BAC’s jacket, a DVD of the newsreel footage and a ceremonial key to the building to His Royal Highness and invited him to sign the visitors' book.

Also in attendance were,

• The Rt Hon the Lord Mayor of Belfast
  
• Mr David Traill, Sheriff for County Antrim ,
  
• Mr Tom Scott OBE, Chairman, BAC,
• Mr Stephen Dickson, BAC Chief Executive Officer,
• Mrs Nicola Campbell, BAC Senior Project Worker,
• Mr Glen Couser, BAC Participant
• Ms Hannah Hamill, BAC Participant