The timings for the visit of The Earl of Wessex to De Montfort University on Friday 7 June have been announced.
And the university’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard has extended an invitation for the people of Leicester to come along to welcome His Royal Highness Prince Edward as he officially opens The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre, in Duns Lane.
It means students, staff and residents can now plan where to gather to see His Royal Highness in what promises to be a spectacle of culture, colour and creativity that has become synonymous with DMU.
The Prince will be on campus for just over two hours, meaning people have plenty of opportunities to see him.
His Royal Highness will arrive at the leisure centre at 11.35am to be greeted by DMU’s Bhangra Society and will remain there for just under an hour. He will start a race at the leisure centre pool featuring members of DMU’s swimming and triathlon teams, visit the gym and sports hall, where he will meet DMU’s highly successful netball and cheerleading teams, and unveil a plaque.
If weather permits, The Prince will then walk from the leisure centre to Trinity House, in The Newarke, at 12.30pm passing Chinese Dancers and the DMU Gospel Choir. Following a lunch in Trinity House, His Royal Highness will then walk to the Chantry, also in The Newarke, at 1.30pm, where he will open the new offices for DMU’s award-winning Square Mile project.
The Prince will then be taken by car to Fosse Neighbourhood Centre, in the heart of the Square Mile, at 1.50pm to see how staff and volunteers are making a difference to the lives of local people through a range of courses and activities. He will then leave Fosse at 2.15pm.
Professor Shellard said: “This is going to be a special day for DMU. I am sure many people in the city will want to join our students and staff in welcoming His Royal Highness to our campus.
“Joining the crowds will mean you have an opportunity to share in the events and show the pride that we all feel for our city.”
The full schedule is:
11.35am His Royal Highness arrives at The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Leisure Centre and is greeted by a performance from the DMU Bhangra Society.
11.40am The Prince will be escorted to the pool area where he will meet members of DMU’s swimming and triathlon teams. He will then sound a klaxon to start a sponsored swim, raising money for the Vice-Chancellor’s Fund - set up to help students facing hardship. The gallery will be filled with students, staff and local community.
11.50am The Prince will see an exhibition of swimwear designed by DMU Contour Fashion graduates before entering the sports hall where there will be a DMU netball match, a demonstration by the DMU Saints cheerleaders and students playing badminton
12pm There will be a visit to the dance studio to watch a spinning class and then the party will move on to the gym to see students using the equipment. At the same time, students on the climbing wall will pass the windows of the first floor gym. Prince Edward will also speak to DMU’s Professor Joan Taylor about her diabetes research.
12.20pm His Royal Highness will then be invited to unveil a commemorative plaque in the reception area, marking the official opening of the leisure centre.
12.30pm Weather permitting the Royal will then head to Trinity House on foot. This will be a perfect opportunity for students, staff and the community to line the route between the QEII and Trinity House. Chinese dancers will perform as His Royal Highness approaches the bridge and the DMU Gospel Choir will perform outside Trinity House.
1pm After His Royal Highness has had a break for lunch he will return to the ground floor of Trinity House and pass a display commemorating Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee visit to DMU as well as displays of shoes designed by DMU footwear students. The Prince will then be introduced to representatives of the university’s faculties and Professional Services staff, allowing us to showcase our achievements from across the university.
Finally, His Royal Highness will add his signature to the same visitors’ book which was signed by Her Majesty The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Cambridge, during their visit to DMU in March last year.
1.28pm The Prince will leave Trinity House and walk to the Chantry building - the new home for the Square Mile Project Office. The Prince will see the Square Mile Homework Club in action. This involves trained students mentoring children from Montrose Primary School on core subjects of Maths, English and Science.
1.42pm I will then invite The Prince to unveil a commemorative plaque marking the official opening of the Square Mile office building. Weather permitting, the plaque will be outside.
1.45pm His Royal Highness will then depart by car for the Fosse Neighbourhood Centre, Mantle Road. Once there he will be introduced to project leaders and participants involved in:
Rik Basra: Stem Cell Donation Drive – this project increased awareness of the work of The Anthony Nolan Trust. The Square Mile team, aided by student volunteers, organised a record breaking event in which 366 stem cell donors were registered in a single day
Movin2gether – designed by DMU graduates, this project teaches degree level dance to a much younger audience and, on completion, participants receive an arts award worth 35 UCAS points, which aids their entry into university
The Prince will then visit a specially equipped IT suite which DMU volunteers use to offer free tailored sessions to the Square Mile community.
2.15pm His Royal Highness will depart by car.
Posted on Thursday 6 June 2013