A ROYAL VIP visited Times Territory as a new building for science teachers was unveiled. The Duke of Edinburgh was guest of honour as around 80 staff and dignitaries gathered at the newly-built home of the Association of Science Education in Hatfield.

A ROYAL VIP visited Times Territory as a new building for science teachers was unveiled.

The Duke of Edinburgh was guest of honour as around 80 staff and dignitaries gathered at the newly-built home of the Association of Science Education in Hatfield.

The 86-year-old patron of the association spent an hour meeting the crowds and unveiled a plaque to commemorate the opening of the facility in College Lane on Monday afternoon.

He told onlookers: “I do not want to harangue your party, but I feel like the granddaddy of everybody here.

“It’s marvellous that you should be here in another place after the other one I opened many years ago.

“I really hope that the new buildings are going to have a dramatic effect on your workings.”

Prince Philip first visited the Hatfield-based organisation when he opened its former site, housed just metres away in 1952. The old building was razed to the ground last year.

Speaking of his more recent visit he told the WHT that he had had a very enjoyable day.

Derek Bell, chief executive of the association, which represents all those involved in science education, was delighted with how the visit went. He said: “I was very impressed with him and the fact that he stayed for almost an hour speaking to everybody.

“It’s a fantastic day for us and he being here really helped to make it.

“What he said was absolutely spot on and he really made everyone feel at ease.”

Chairman Graham Kingsley said: “It is an honour to have him talk here and as our patron we should be grateful for him to open our fantastic new facility.

“He was extremely charming and interested and we now look forward to a very bright future.”