Princess Anne's Norfolk trip

Jan 22, 2010, 12:02 GMT

Britain's Princess Anne impressed Norfolk residents with her knowledge of deafblind people.

The princess - who is patron of the charity Sense - visited the Sense resource centre in Dereham, where she met students and staff at the centre's purpose-built facility and was praised for the interest and concern she showed.

Karen Elsbury, who is community services manager for Sense in Norfolk and Suffolk, said: "The Princess Royal is a very, very good patron and for the students it is really important that they feel valued."

Jackie Holland, project manager for independent living, said: "Princess Anne is lovely and she talked to the students rather than talking through the staff. She is getting recognition for deafblindness."

Earlier in her visit to Norfolk, Anne - who is also patron of the national charity Riding for the Disabled (RDA) - visited a riding school specifically for people with disabilities.

The former Olympic horsewoman met with riders, volunteers and fundraisers at the West Norfolk Riding for the Disabled Magpie Centre in Runcton Holme and enjoyed a demonstration of mounted party games.

Izaak Chesney-Beales, 10, from East Walton greeted the princess outside the centre stables as she arrived by helicopter.

He said: "It was really cool. I saw the helicopter land. It was really exciting."

His mother Rae said: "She asked him how long he had been riding, which of the horses he rode. She asked us if we thought it was a good therapy. He comes every week. It has been very good therapy for him."

She later visited the Robert Kett Court complex at Ethel Gooch Road to see how occupational therapy is helping to transform the lives of older people.

At the end of her tour, she said: "There is a lot of exciting work going on. It is important to people as independent as possible for as long as possible."