Leicester’s crowning glory

The Ripple was granted unprecedented access to the Queen’s historic visit to the University of Leicester, marking the opening of the award-winning, £32m David Wilson Library.

What started as a gloomy Thursday morning quickly brightened up upon the Queen’s arrival, as sunshine broke through the clouds to welcome the royal couple on their return to the University. The historic visit comes fifty years after Her Majesty formally opened the Percy Gee Student’s Union Building in 1958.

Speaking to the Ripple before the Royal arrival, Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robert Burgess, said: “We’re very excited; this is a very special occasion. The visit highlights the University’s developing status.” This visit comes after arguably the University’s most successful year to date, with only weeks ago being awarded the THE University of the Year Award. The University has also been placed highest in the Midlands within the National Student Survey for the fourth consecutive year and we have achieved our highest ever ranking in the national league tables, securing our position as a top twelve institution.

Her Majesty and His Royal Highness arrived in Leicester via the Royal train, The Royal Sovereign, marking their first visit to the city in six years. Accompanied by a police escort, they pulled up to campus at 10.40am, to be greeted by an excited staff and student cohort who had abandoned lectures and studying to catch a glimpse of history in the making.

The enthusiastic crowd, which had been building for several hours beforehand, eagerly welcomed the Monarch with loud cheers and jubilant applause.

On her arrival, the Percy Gee building could be seen behind Her Majesty as a distant memory of the past. The Queen was seen looking towards the future with the opening of this impressive structure; a sign of hope and success.

Stepping out of the Royal Rolls, the Queen was dressed immaculately in a clean-cut, pastel pink ensemble, with matching hat and jeweled brooch. The Duke was sporting a long brown over-coat and a smart grey suit.

The Lord-Lieutenant and the Vice Lord-Lieutenant escorted The Queen and The Duke to the library entrance where they were greeted by Sir Peter Williams, the University’s Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor.

The new library boasts state of the art technology in a unique learning environment with an increased capacity and thousands of new books and resources. Sir Peter Williams said: “She was equally interested in the new technology, but was mightily relieved to learn that we do still have folding books.”

The Queen and Prince Philip paused to admire the revolving sculpture in the library’s foyer and paid particular interest to the innovative book return system.

The Royal couple then proceeded upstairs where they had the chance to speak to a variety of students and benefactors and also viewed various exhibitions displaying research projects that the University is currently pursuing, as well as a model of the campus, to which the Duke took a special interest in the engineering building, asking: “What is this?” Perhaps he could not see the ship either!

They spent approximately forty-five minutes touring the building before returning to the foyer to unveil a commemorative plaque and officially open the building. Pro-Vice Chancellor and Librarian, Christine Fyfe, said: “This is a wonderful day for the library.”

On leaving the library, the Queen turned and surveyed the impressive glass structure, greeted by another rapturous reception from the student body. Cheers of, “We love you M’am!” could be heard from the crowd as she made her way back to the Royal motor.

The Vice-Chancellor articulated the mood perfectly in commenting; “This was a historic moment in the history of the University; one that will last forever.”

James Gardner & Amy Cory

Tags: Leicester, Queen, university