Bentley Priory welcomes Prince

5:18pm Friday 15th June 2007

Comments (0)   Have your say »

CLOUDY skies greeted the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall when they paid a visit to one of Harrow's most historic sites earlier today.

The Royals arrived by helicopter from the Three Counties Show at Malvern and were welcomed by members of the Battle Of Britain Fighter Association (BBFA) during the annual summer gathering at RAF Bentley Priory in Stanmore.

Squadron Leader Jocelyn Millard, 92, who served from 1937 - 1947 enjoyed a cup of tea with Prince Charles. He told the Harrow Times: "I always come here, I don't do bingo, my social life is all the Air Force."

Accompanied by his neighbour, Sq Leader Millard said: "I had spoken to Prince Charles before last year when we went to Clarence House, and then we went to Buckingham Palace and I had a nice talk with his wife.

"The RAF is my life."

An afternoon reception was held in the Officer's Mess, where Prince Charles met with the survivors of The Few, an aircrew who fought in the 1940 Battle of Britain.

An impressive fly-past involving a BBFA Hurricane and a Spitfire followed the tea.

Bentley Priory was one of the core RAF bases during the Second World War, and was where Air Chief Marshal Lord Dowding led the battle that turned the tide of the war in the Allies favour.

There are only 145 surviving members of the BBFA, which was formed in 1958.

More to follow.