1980s: The Royal Infirmary and Greeting Crowds

Her Majesty The Queen was accompanied by HRH Prince Philip when she visited the city on 14^th March 1980. The first stop on their itinerary was the Leicester Royal Infirmary, where The Queen opened a new £12.5 million extension.

After completing their duties at the Infirmary, the royal couple were driven to the Town Hall to sign the visitors’ book and greet the crowds from the balcony. From Town Hall Square, The Queen and Prince Philip went on a walkabout along Horsefair Street and Gallowtree Gate, re-joining their car at the Clock Tower.

In the afternoon the royal guests visited the machine tool works of Braunstone-based Jones & Shipman Ltd. who were celebrating their 75^th anniversary.

“Her Majesty is a most charming and delightful person. We are planning the route to have the maximum impact so that the citizens of Leicester and those in the county will be able to see her” (Colonel Martin, Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire). 

On 17^th November 1989 The Queen visited the purpose-built NSPCC Training Centre in Beaumont Leys, where a plaque to commemorate the occasion was unveiled. The Queen was then the Society’s Royal Patron.