Princess Anne had a relaxed stroll round a centre for young people at risk yesterday and enjoyed the winter sunshine.
HRH The Princess Royal accepted flowers from shy but proud Chris Marshall, 14, when she arrived at the Kibble Education and Care Centre in Paisley.
Chris, who is on the centre’s pupil council, told the Paisley Daily Express: “I said ‘welcome to the Kibble and pleased to meet you’ when she arrived.
“She was really nice and gave me a smile. This is the first time I have met someone from the Royal family. I met Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone and player Shunsuke Nakamura before, but never anyone from the Royal family.
“I shook her hand. I was nervous, but she put me at ease when she smiled.”
Pipe Major James MacLean, from Houston, played The Black Bear and Scotland The Brave as Princess Anne – who knows the words well as she has been filmed singing along when she supports Scotland’s rugby heroes – arrived at Goudie Street.
As she toured the centre and its grounds to open the new Safe Centre building the path was lined with staff and young people keen to take pictures and hear what she said.
Paul Wilson, 16, Sean Park, 16 and 17-year-old Patrick Moore were lucky enough to have a quick chat.
Patrick, from Johnstone, is training to be a picture framer at KibbleWorks and said: “Princess Anne said being a picture framer is like being a barber – you will always need one!
“I am full-time at KibbleWorks. When I heard they did picture framing here I decided I wanted to do it, and I got right into it.”
The Safe Centre has secure accommodation for 18 boys who are referred to Kibble by the courts or children’s hearing system.
Paul has been working in the kitchen at KibbleWorks since August last year, and said it will give him the skills to get a job.
“The Princess asked what kind of stuff I do for buffets and functions. I hope the training here will help me leave and continue to work in restaurants,” he said.
Sean, who is studying music production, described being at Kibble as a great chance he “took with both hands.”
The Kibble is the largest multi-service centre in the United Kingdom, and specialises in work with young people at risk from all over the country.
It provides community outreach, residential care, secondary education, intensive fostering, secure care and employment training for care leavers delivered through a portfolio of social enterprises.
Chief Executive Graham Bell said Princess Anne – who was wearing a grey coat, green scarf and boots – gave the centre and the new facility the royal seal of approval.
He told the Paisley Daily Express: “She commented on the importance of places like this for the whole community. She was very complementary about what we have been doing over the years, and she was very chatty.
“She was very, very good with the youngsters and talked openly and freely.
“This visit is great Royal recognition of the work we do here, and we appreciate it because the Princess has a very busy diary.
“Her visit was a great boost for us, for the young people and for everyone here. It energises you to go on and do more.”
John Hillcoat, who is the goalie for Third Division club Stenhousemuir, is a PE teacher at the centre and chatted to the Royal visitor.
He said: “She asked about the boys and what we do in the PE department. Of course, I said the PE department is the best in the school. She was very nice.”
As Princess Anne left the Kibble after about 90 minutes she told patient onlookers: “Thank you very much.”
She then headed for the Watermill Hotel, Paisley, where she met members of Victim Support in Renfrewshire who are celebrating their 20th anniversary.
