QUEEN ELIZABETH II VISITS GORDONSTOUN

THE QUEEN ENJOYED A TASTE OF WEST END MUSICALS IN THE HIGHLANDS RECENTLY AS SHE VISITED GORDONSTOUN, THE SCHOOL WHERE HER HUSBAND AND SONS WERE EDUCATED. SHE WAS AT THE SCHOOL AT MORAY TO OPEN A NEW SPORTS CENTER. THE QUEEN WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT TO OPEN THE HALL LAST SEPTEMBER BUT THE VISIT HAD TO BE POSTPONED BECAUSE OF THE SWINE FLU OUTBREAK AT THE SCHOOL. PUPILS PERFORMED EXCERPTS FROM THE MUSICAL LES MISERABLES IN THE OGSTOUN THEATER. SHE AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH ARRIVED IN A HELICOPTER AT 11.a. THE COUPLE WATCHED HOCKEY DEMONSTRATIONS OUTSIDE BEFORE MAKING THEIR WAY IN TO THE SPORTS HALL, WITH PUPILS LINING THE ROUTE. AFTER A SPEECH FROM BRYAN WILLIAMS, CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS, THE QUEEN UNVEILED A PLAQUE TO OFFICIALLY OPEN THE HALL. IONA MCVEAN AND CONNOR COLLINS THE YOUNGEST BOY AND GIRL FROM ABERLOUR HOUSE, THE PREP SCHOOL FOR GORDONSTOUN, EACH GAVE HER A BOUQUET OF FLOWERS. AFTER THE PERFORMANCE THE QUEEN CHATTED WITH THE SOLOISTS. ONE OF THEM, LAURA BARNES, SAID IT WAS A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE TO SING FOR THE QUEEN, AND SPEAK WITH TO HER AFTERWARD. DURING HER VISIT, THE QUEEN ALSO SPOKE TO PUPILS IN THE SECOND FIRE AND COASTGUARD SERVICES, AND MET SCHOOL DIGNITARIES AS WELL AS RETIRED HEAD OF PHYSICAL EDUCATION GEORGE WELSH, AFTER WHOM THE NEW SPORTS HALL HAS BEEN NAMED. GORDONSTOUN, NEAR ELGIN, HAS EDUCATED SEVERAL GENERATIONS OF BRITISH ROYALTY. THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH AND HIS SONS, THE PRINCE OF WALES, THE DUKE OF YORK AND THE EARL OF WESSEX, ALL ATTENDED THE SCHOOL, WHERE FEES RANGE FROM AROUND £19,000 FOR DAY PUPILS UP TO £29,000 A YEAR FOR BOARDERS.