HRH The Earl of Wessex visits Spectrum Centre in Belfast
His Royal Highness The Earl of Wessex on the third engagement of the day visited The Spectrum Centre, Shankill Road Belfast to celebrate the success of the Belfast Activity Centre (BAC) with their youth building programmes.
The Spectrum Centre opened in 2001 and was a community project realised by the Greater Shankill Partnership.
His Royal Highness was greeted by Dame Mary Peters DBE Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast.
HRH accompanied by Ms Julie Andrews, General Manager, Spectrum Centre met representatives of the Greater Shankill Partnership Board, local community representatives, FASA/”Safe Together” suicide awareness group, funders and supporters, and Sure Start/Early Years representatives.
Moving to the Projection Gallery HRH met Mr Bobby Foster, Spectrum Centre Events manager and a number of centre staff.
HRH accompanied by Stephen Dickson, BAC Chief Executive Officer moved to the auditorium and had the opportunity to speak to school children before going on to enjoy a multi media presentation of the work of the two year BAC Youth Building Programme including a dramatisation, mountain bikers display, abseilers and an aerobic dance routine.
Following the presentations HRH accepted an invitation from Mr Tom Scott OBE, Chair Greater Shankill Partnership Board to unveil a plaque commemorating the visit.
HRH was presented with a gift of Irish Linen Shankill Motif by Ms Zoe Warnock a student at the Girl’s Model School and a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award participant.
Notes to Editors
HRH was greeted by Dame Mary Peters DBE Lord-Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast and went on to meet:
Councillor William Humphrey MLA, Deputy Lord Mayor, Belfast City Council,
Councillor Ian Adamson, Sheriff for the County Borough of Belfast,
Mr Nigel Dodds MP, Member of Parliament for North Belfast,
Mr Alex Attwood MLA, Minister Department for Social Development,
Mr Nelson McCausland MLA, Minister Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure,
Mrs Rosalie Flanagan, Permanent Secretary, Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure,
Mr Tom Scott OBE, Chair, Greater Shankill Partnership Board,
Mr Tom Winston, Chair, The Spectrum Board,
Mr Jackie Redpath MBE, Chief Executive, Greater Shankill Partnership Board,
Ms Julie Andrews, General Manager, Spectrum Centre,
and
Mr Stephen Dickson, BAC Chief Executive Officer.