Sunshine greeted the Princess of Wales in January 1991 as she visited Swadlincote. It was Princess Diana's first visit to the district and so the Royal visit provided plenty of opportunities for well-wishers to meet Her Royal Highness.

The tour started at around 11.30am on January 16 when the princess arrived at the Church Gresley pottery works of Cloverleaf TG Green, in John Street.

There, the smiling princess was greeted by South Derbyshire Council chairman Josiah Ford and council chief executive Terry Day. Seventeen year-old Sharon Martin handed the princess a posy on behalf of the pottery Cloverleaf TG Green.

After touring the works, the Princess visited Church Gresley's Indoor Bowling Centre, in Gresley Wood Road.

Once at the centre, Princess Diana met Ken Toon, the chairman of the £750,000 centre and unveiled a plaque.

In return, Her Royal Highness was presented with a miners' safety lamp and was told of how the lamps had saved the lives of many miners over the years.

Sharon Martin handed the princess a posy on behalf of the pottery Cloverleaf TG Green.
Sharon Martin handed the princess a posy on behalf of the pottery Cloverleaf TG Green.

The Royal visitor was invited to bowl a wood at the centre and slipped off her shoes to step onto the green baize to play against Ray Smith, the chairman of the Church Gresley Indoor Bowling Centre.

Mr Smith said he thought the princess warmed to the game and said her third attempt was 'impressive'.

Speaking in 1991, Mr Smith said: "I think she got her footwork wrong with the first two shots and they were a little wayward but she was much better with the third wood.

"She must have ball sense because she got the length quite well. I would have thought she would become a good player given more practice".

Princess Diana was then introduced to the Gresley Male Voice Choir who all sang barefoot as she inspected the new premises.

As the choir sang 'Come Back Home' – a Welsh song about a miner, the princess met local potter John Perks.

Mr Perks was the managing director of Mason Cash in Pool Street, Church Gresley, was asked to produce 260 souvenir bowls for South Derbyshire District Council to present to guests.

The next stop on the list was to Granville Court Sheltered Housing Scheme, in Swadlincote, where her Royal Highness chatted with residents.

The entourage finally arrived at The Delph where Princess Diana began a walkabout which took her amid huge crowds and massive security the length of West Street to Grove Hall.

Princess Diana visited Granville Court Sheltered Housing Scheme, in Swadlincote, where she chatted with residents.
Princess Diana visited Granville Court Sheltered Housing Scheme, in Swadlincote, where she chatted with residents.

Once at Grove Hall she planted an English oak in the grounds before retreating inside to meet local businessmen, civic dignitaries and South Derbyshire MP Edwina Currie.

The Burton Mail then came in for praise from Her Royal Highness as she spoke about the newspaper's Heartbeat Appeal and the Burton Scanner Appeal.

After a final walkabout and promising to return, the Princess retreated to the safety of her waiting car and headed off to East Midlands Airport.

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