THE Duke of Gloucester’s trip to Melksham in September for the 800th anniversary of the granting of a Royal Charter by King Henry 111 for a weekly market and Michaelmas fair is the latest in a long line of royal visits.

In making the visit, the Duke was treading in the footsteps of his grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, who visited Melksham in 1917, and his mother, Princess Alice, who came to Melksham during the Second World War.

During the visit, Peter Maslen, secretary of the Melksham and District Historical Association, showed the Duke some photographs of the King and Queen’s visit.

Mr Maslen said: “The Duke was fascinated by the photographs, which showed the King’s morale-boosting visit during WWI. He visited Avon Rubber and Spencers, which were both engaged in the war effort.

“At the time, Spencers Ltd had just opened a state-of-the-art factory, built in six months from start to finish, for the manufacture of shell cases for the British military.

“This was one of the first factories to employ hydraulically-controlled machines to improve accuracy and productivity. It was on Beanacre Road, where McDonalds is now.”

The Duke’s mother, the Duchess of Gloucester, visited Melksham during the Second World War to open the new Canberra Centre and Hut in Spa Road.

“These were built and paid for by the City of Canberra in Australia in recognition of the people of Melksham who cared for injured Anzac troops,” Mr Maslen said.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Avon Rubber in 1961 and arrived by helicopter, landing on the former tyre testing ‘skid pan’.

His daughter, Princess Anne the Princess Royal visited Melksham on April 21 2000 to open the town’s new Millennium Walk and Millennium Bridge alongside the River Avon near King George V playing fields, and also attended a service in St Michael & All Angels Parish Church.

The Princess Royal returned on April 7 2014 to present Coombe Castle International with its third Queen’s Export Award and officially open the firm’s new headquarters.

THE Duke of Gloucester’s trip to Melksham in September for the 800th anniversary of the granting of a Royal Charter by King Henry 111 for a weekly market and Michaelmas fair is the latest in a long line of royal visits.

In making the visit, the Duke was treading in the footsteps of his grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, who visited Melksham in 1917, and his mother, Princess Alice, who came to Melksham during the Second World War.

During the visit, Peter Maslen, secretary of the Melksham and District Historical Association, showed the Duke some photographs of the King and Queen’s visit.

Mr Maslen said: “The Duke was fascinated by the photographs, which showed the King’s morale-boosting visit during WWI. He visited Avon Rubber and Spencers, which were both engaged in the war effort.

“At the time, Spencers Ltd had just opened a state-of-the-art factory, built in six months from start to finish, for the manufacture of shell cases for the British military.

“This was one of the first factories to employ hydraulically-controlled machines to improve accuracy and productivity. It was on Beanacre Road, where McDonalds is now.”

The Duke’s mother, the Duchess of Gloucester, visited Melksham during the Second World War to open the new Canberra Centre and Hut in Spa Road.

“These were built and paid for by the City of Canberra in Australia in recognition of the people of Melksham who cared for injured Anzac troops,” Mr Maslen said.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Avon Rubber in 1961 and arrived by helicopter, landing on the former tyre testing ‘skid pan’.

His daughter, Princess Anne the Princess Royal visited Melksham on April 21 2000 to open the town’s new Millennium Walk and Millennium Bridge alongside the River Avon near King George V playing fields, and also attended a service in St Michael & All Angels Parish Church.

The Princess Royal returned on April 7 2014 to present Coombe Castle International with its third Queen’s Export Award and officially open the firm’s new headquarters.

THE Duke of Gloucester’s trip to Melksham in September for the 800th anniversary of the granting of a Royal Charter by King Henry 111 for a weekly market and Michaelmas fair is the latest in a long line of royal visits.

In making the visit, the Duke was treading in the footsteps of his grandparents, King George V and Queen Mary, who visited Melksham in 1917, and his mother, Princess Alice, who came to Melksham during the Second World War.

During the visit on September 27, Peter Maslen, secretary of the Melksham and District Historical Association, showed the Duke some photographs of the King and Queen’s visit.

Mr Maslen said: “The Duke was fascinated by the photographs, which showed the King’s morale-boosting visit during WWI. He visited Avon Rubber and Spencers, which were both engaged in the war effort.

“At the time, Spencers Ltd had just opened a state-of-the-art factory, built in six months from start to finish, for the manufacture of shell cases for the British military.

“This was one of the first factories to employ hydraulically-controlled machines to improve accuracy and productivity. It was on Beanacre Road, where McDonalds is now.”

The Duke’s mother, the Duchess of Gloucester, visited Melksham during the Second World War to open the new Canberra Centre and Hut in Spa Road.

“These were built and paid for by the City of Canberra in Australia in recognition of the people of Melksham who cared for injured Anzac troops,” Mr Maslen said.

Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Avon Rubber in 1961 and arrived by helicopter, landing on the former tyre testing ‘skid pan’.

His daughter, Princess Anne the Princess Royal visited Melksham on April 21 2000 to open the town’s new Millennium Walk and Millennium Bridge alongside the River Avon near King George V playing fields, and also attended a service in St Michael & All Angels Parish Church.

The Princess Royal returned on April 7 2014 to present Coombe Castle International with its third Queen’s Export Award and officially open the firm’s new headquarters.