Royal visit at Lincoln Cathedral

Pictures: Chris Vaughan

Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, visited Lincoln Cathedral on Thursday afternoon. 

He was welcomed by the Very Revd Dr Simon Jones, Dean of Lincoln and the Duke’s visit included a tour of the cathedral and a recital by the Choral Scholars.

He met the cathedral’s education team in the Ross Leaning Centre more about their work with school children from across the county. 

Sally Bleasdale and Emma Bloys told His Royal Highness about delivering workshops to the hundreds of pupils who visit the cathedral each year and who benefit from hands on learning activities which bring history to life.

The Duke also spent time in the Cathedral exhibition gallery where he met Fern Dawson, the Cathedral’s curator. The space, which is used to display a selection of artefacts from the 950 year history of the building, is home to the Romanesque frieze; one of the most significant surviving collections of Norman figure carving in Europe.

His Royal Highness was received by Mr Andrew Clark DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, and then greeted representatives from across the city, comprising David Chambers, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire; Cllr Bill Mara  Mayor of Lincoln; Gary Daley, Lincoln City Sheriff and Cllr Mike Beecham, Vice-Chairman of Lincolnshire County Council.  

Representing the Cathedral were The Rev Canon Rowena King, Canon Missioner; The Reve Darren McFarland, Succentor; Michael Belcher, Honorary Secretary of the Friends of Lincoln Cathedral and The Revd Canon Michael Boughton, Chairman of the Friends. The Duke is a patron of the friends of Lincoln Cathedral, holding the title of First Friend.

Before leaving, His Royal Highness also took a moment to view the famous Lincoln Imp, the stone carving which has become a beloved symbol of the city of Lincoln, not least because a tie pin in the form of the Lincoln Imp was worn by The then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, when his horse Persimmon won the Derby in 1896.