THE COUNTESS of Wessex visited a youth group, a primary school and opened a new St John Ambulance headquarters in Wiltshire this week.

Lady Wessex arrived by helicopter just before 1pm yesterday to visit the Codford Youth Group Network (Cygnets) and the village's Wylye Valley School. She presented the insignia of The Queen's Award For Voluntary Service to Cygnets, and then unveiled a plaque to open the young people's sports and chill-out area in Codford Village Hall.

Lady Wessex then met children, staff, parents and governors at the newly formed Wylye Valley School, which was created in April 2005. The school was formed by merging Codford Primary School and Steeple Langford Primary School, under the guidance of head teacher Debi Downing. She visited an infants' class and attended an assembly, before mingling with parents and children in the school playground.

Lady Wessex, who is Grand President of the Priory of St John Ambulance, had opened the new Wiltshire headquarters in Devizes in the morning. She unveiled a commemorative plaque after she was given a tour of the new headquarters and met staff, volunteers and some young members.

The opening was attended by the High Sheriff, the Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire and the mayor of Devizes as well as senior volunteers from the St John Ambulance.