Princess Anne visits lighthouse

May 13, 2010, 13:18 GMT

Britain's Princess Anne visited a lighthouse in Happisburgh yesterday (12.05.10).

The 59-year-old royal climbed 112 steps and squeezed through a small hatch to reach the balcony of the red-and-white striped tower in North Norfolk, as she took in views of the land and sea and questioned volunteers about the history and management of the building.

Volunteer Jim Whiteside said: "It is not an easy hatch to get through, so we were delighted. She spent a lot of time talking to various people involved with the lighthouse, including the retired Cromer lighthouse keeper Graham Fearn and chairman of the lighthouse trust Patrick Tubby."

The princess has always been fascinated by lighthouses and became patron of the Friends of Happisburgh Lighthouse last year.

She also visited the headquarters for charity Lattitude Global Volunteering in Reading, where she watched a presentation from 19-year-old student Linda Bloomfield - who discussed her work in South Africa, where she taught in a school in the HIV-filled area.

Linda said: "It is a real honour to be able to do it but I really enjoy talking about Africa and my gap year. "They really have nothing but they would give you all that they had. They are such a hopeful and happy people."