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Princess Royal Visits Rhins

PRINCESS Anne, The Princess Royal, made a flying visit to the Rhins on Saturday.

In her capacity as Patron of the Northern Lighthouse Board, she arrived by helicopter at the Mull of Galloway having been lifted from the Board's support ship, Pharos, which was anchored in Luce Bay.

She was accompanied by members of the Northern Lighthouse Commissioners.

The visit was part of the annual inspection of lighthouse facilities. To record the visit, the only Press representative present was Steve Hardy, the Free Press South Rhins correspondent. He was asked not to take pictures as the event was a private affair.

Princess Anne's visit started with a visit to the Visitor Centre at the Mull where she was introduced to and shown around the facility, by the resident Royal Society for the Protection of Birds staff, officials and a representative of the South Rhins Community Development Trust.

Her next port of call was the lighthouse, where, after climbing the 115 steps, she was given a guided tour of the tower and light by the lighthouse attendant Jimmy Fyffe.

The party then travelled from the Mull of Galloway, in a small convoy and additional visits were made to Killantringan and Corsewall lighthouses.