Freshers have found themselves rubbing shoulders with royalty as they settle into university life in Carlisle.

First-year students were among those on the Fusehill Street campus, when The Princess Royal was given a guided tour by vice chancellor Professor Julie Mennell.
Stiltwalker Chirs Marley

They passed stiltwalker Chris Marley, who was entertaining students during the University of Cumbria's Welcome Week for new arrivals.

The princess spent more than 90 minutes yesterday (WED) learning more about the University of Cumbria's development and future plans.

At the end she unveiled a plaque to open its £3.5m STEM facilities and was treated to performances by Voces UoC, the university's vocal group.

Dance and musical theatre student Abi Walton, a soprano in the group, presented the princess with a posy.

Abi revealed afterwards: "We'd only rehearsed our pieces three times before our performance for the princess.

"We quite used to doing things like this so we weren't really that nervous. It was really good."

The Princess Royal's visit forms part of the university's 10th anniversary celebrations, and marks the launch of its strategic plan which shapes its aims and ambitions for the next three years.

Her Royal Highness met many members of staff and students.

She learned about the links and collaborations the university has with local employers, industry and organisations to help meet identified skills gaps and offer new opportunities to students, as well as build upon its existing "People, Places, Partnerships" as set out in the university's new vision.

Those she spoke to included nurse Zoe Butler who was, in May, awarded the Andrew Parker Student Nurse Award at the Royal College of Nursing inspiration (RCNi) Awards 2017 for her work to reduce the stigma of mental health in young people.

Zoe, from Kendal, said: "I was telling the princess about my work around mental health awareness.

"She was saying that we often get issues and questions about how do we break down those barriers.

"She was very challenging in her questioning and also very interested."

Police officer Rob Ewin, a detective sergeant with Cumbria Constabulary, has been a student at the university for eight years and is now nearing the end of his PhD.

Highlighting the successful collaboration between the force and university developing professional opportunities, Carlisle-based DS Ewin revealed he was nervous about his brush with royalty.

"I've done royal visits before through uniformed duties at work but never been presented like this."

He added: "She was wonderful and was very challenging, in terms of her questions, and she didn't take in any fools."

Colleague Dr Elspeth Lees told the princess about the university's growing STEM provision (science, technology, engineering and maths).

Dr Lees said: "We're proud of what we've achieved here to date and know we've got some distance still to go but it is an absolute pleasure to ask the princess to take notice of the work we've undertaken and the impact of such work."

Her Royal Highness was greeted by dignitaries when she arrived by car at the campus shortly before 11.30am, just minutes after a helicopter was heard landing close by.

They included Lord Lieutenant Claire Hensman; High Sheriff of Cumbria, Alistair Wannop; vice chairman of Cumbria County Council, councillor Liz Mallinson; the Mayor of Carlisle, councillor Trish Vasey; and chief executive of the city council, Dr Jason Gooding.

Nearing the end of her engagement, Princess Anne officially opened the university's £3.5m STEM teaching block by unveiling a plaque before civic dignitaries and invited guests in the site's Learning Gateway lecture theatre.

Guests included Rob Johnson, from Cumbria Chamber of Commerce; Andy Beeforth, of Cumbria Community Foundation; and Cherry Tingle, of the Energy Coast UTC at Lillyhall.

The princess gave a short address, commenting on the importance of the university's role in the county and its opportunity to "build history".


Princess Anne The princess also praised the university for its work with other partners, including industry, to provide new opportunities such as "real life" research and efforts to develop provision to meet skills gaps identified by employers.

She said: "You show the signs of doing that really well. "It is a pleasure to join you at an important part of your process."

She shared a joke with vice chancellor Professor Julie Mennell, as she took out a pen from her handbag to sign the university's visitors book before leaving to head to the Scottish Borders for more engagements.

Professor Mennell said: "She was very impressed, engaged and interested. She was also very relaxed and very knowledgable.

"She was very interested in where we are looking to position ourselves in emerging industrial strategies and that Cumbria does have world class assets like STEM."

Since it was formed in 2007, more than 32,000 students have graduated from the University of Cumbria which has sites in Carlisle, Ambleside, Lancaster and London.