Birkin lace factory welcomes The People's Princess

The Borrowash edition of the Derby Evening Telegraph from September 9, 1992

The September 9, 1992, edition of the Derby Evening Telegraph dubbed Princess Diana "The People's Princess" when it gave front page coverage to her visit to the Birkin lace factory in Borrowash.

The Birkin company was no stranger to Royal visits. King George V and Queen Mary had toured the company's Nottingham plant in 1914, Queen Elizabeth II visited in 1953 and the Princess Royal, Princess Anne, toured the plant in 1986.,

In 1992, Princess Diana was still monpolising media attention everywhere she went. On the morning of Wednesday September 9 she had flown into East Midlands Airport with Prince Charles and together they had called in to Nottingham's Queen's Medical Centre where the Prince had been treated for a twisted knee the previous Saturday.

While the Prince went on to visits in Nottingham, the Princess headed for Borrowash where civic dignataries lined up to meet her. But once the formalities were over, the Princess headed straight for hundreds of flag-waving school children.

The youngsters - from Redhill Primary, Ockbrook, Ashbrook Infant & Junior and Draycott Primary - clamoured to present posies to the Princess.

Afterwards, Birkin's assistant managing director Barry Stocks guided the Princess round the factory and explained the lace-making process.

He said afterwards: "The Princess of Wales does a fantastic job for the British textile and fashion industries and we are delighted she could come."

Wearing a royal blue skirt suit, the Princess then delighted the waiting crowds with one of her famous impromptu walkabouts.

Dorothy Darlington of Kirlees Avenue, Spondon, had travelled to Borrowash with her four sisters for a chance to see Diana. She said: "She was absolutely gorgeous. We want her back in Derbyshire. She has made Borrowash special."

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