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• THE ROYALS share a happy moment - perhaps connected to her yearning for chocolate brownies …
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• A posy for the Countess.
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• The children loved it all...
usch a happy royal visit.
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• The Earl in an area packed with
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Chocolate brownies delay royal couple …
Pictures: Terry Ife
Words: Becca Gliddon
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A YEARNING for Otterton Mill’s scrumptious chocolate brownies meant the Earl and Countess of Wessex spent longer at the mill than originally planned.
The Queen’s youngest son Prince Edward, and his wife, Sophie, spent an hour-and-a-half at Otterton Mill looking at work that goes on both in the mill and gallery.
When the royal couple arrived, they were greeted by youngsters from Otterton School bearing long-stemmed pink roses for the Countess, who is expecting the couple’s second child.
Stepping from the car, the royal highnesses spent time mingling with the pupils in an informal walkabout.
Five-year-old Otterton Primary School pupil Edward Lister said he had been excited to meet the countess.
“I was holding my rose and she said ‘is that for me?’” he said. “I said my name was Edward and she said it was the same as her husband’s.”
Rachel Hanna, seven, said: “I asked her how many televisions she had and she said ‘one’. I thought they would have about 82.”
Tom Evans, 10, said he and his friend William Craven, 11, had been holding the Union flag, which the earl commented on.
“He said ‘the flag looks good; did you make it?’ We said ‘no’. I have seen the royal family on TV but it was really cool and exciting to see them here.”
Frances Jones, nine, said she knew what to expect of the royal couple.
“My mum said Edward looks a bit like my uncle because they have got the same hair. Sophie asked me about my
homework, so I told her sometimes it’s quite easy.”
Accompanied by the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, TRH met staff, resident artists and exhibiting artists before enjoying a buffet lunch in the mill’s restaurant. They also saw the mill in full production before touring the award winning bakery and Devon food shop - where they were presented with a hamper of local produce. The royal couple were shown around by mill owners Bob Butler and Claire Stein.
Ms Stein said that, during lunch, the royal couple had discussed the importance of local food production.
“It was a really easy, comfortable visit. They were a really nice couple and both tasted the raw flour that was being milled,” she said. “They left 15 minutes later than planned because Sophie wanted a chocolate brownie for pudding!”
The Earl and Countess of Wessex also met representatives from the regional arts, food, business and tourism sectors.
Among the artists present on the day were Exmouth painter Ray Balkwill, cabinet maker James Verner and photographer Kimberley Rainford.
Musicians Simon Swarbrick and Ken Watkins performed for the royal couple in the mill’s courtyard.
Before leaving, TRH unveiled a blue-leafed commemorative plaque designed by resident ceramicist Nan Taksoe-Jensen – which the royal couple joked could be erected next to the vegetables.
Before they left, Budleigh Salterton St Peter’s School pupil Emily Spiller, six, presented a posy of flowers to the Countess.
“She asked me which was my favourite flower. When I showed her which one, she said it was the same as hers,” said Emily.
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