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Something of a royalist cynic, Stuart Haywood recalls the time Princess Diana visited his home town of Church Gresley in 1991and he found himself completely mesmerised by her charisma and charm – so much so that, as she twisted to wave out of the back of her car to his little group, a lump came to his throat – as he describes here.

January 16, 1991, dawned, mild, dry and sunny, perfect winter weather for the official visit of Diana, Princess of Wales, to Church Gresley and Swadlincote.

Although I cannot claim to be an ardent royalist, I always had a high regard for Diana.

She was to commence her visit by meeting some local dignitaries at the premises of TG Green, makers of Cornishware pottery, before travelling to the indoor bowling centre at Gresley Old Hall.

The chances were that the entourage would pass our house during that journey and, as it was a beautiful day, we decided to stand on the kerbside outside hoping that she would come our way.

We were joined by our nextdoor neighbours, making an isolated quartet beside the road. Most people had gone to TG Green’s, where a large crowd had gathered.

We did not have to wait long. We could see a considerable way along Common Road and had ample warning as to the approach of the royal visitor.

At around noon, a large limousine flying the Royal pennant came into view, travelling at a modest speed. The four of us lined up by the kerb and gave Princess Di a cheery wave. She responded with a hearty wave and a big smile, looking directly at us. When I say a hearty wave, I mean a real wave not just the turn of a wrist.

Princess Diana greets the crowds during her visit to Church Gresley in 1991

Such was the effect of this gesture that we decided to walk to Swadlincote town centre where Princess Diana was to go on a “walkabout”.

We had plenty of time as she was taking lunch at Granville Court before the stroll. Granville Court was a council-run sheltered housing scheme.

When we arrived at Swadlincote, we took up our stations on West Street outside the derelict Sharpe’s Pottery, since reborn as a heritage centre and museum.

Large crowds lined both sides of the road but we fortunately found a good vantage point. The expectant buzz in the ground warned us that the Princess was getting close.

And then she appeared. Tall, slender and immaculately coiffeured, her beauty was breathtaking. She was dressed in a white blouse, buttoned to the neck, a black pleated skirt with black shoes and gloves. The ensemble was completed with a three-quarter length fitted coat in cerise. What a vision!

Not only that but she exuded natural charm in her dealings with people of all ages and background. She then disappeared into the Grove Hall to meet more council officials and be entertained by children from Belmont School.

My wife and I then went a walk through the town centre, meeting old friends and mulling over what we had seen. A woman, not known to us, asked if the visit was over.

When we told her “yes”, I thought that she would dissolve in tears. To say she was disappointed is a great understatement.

However, my wife, Rhona, and I put our heads together and quickly decided the royal party would be leaving via Civic Way in the next few minutes.

So, together with the disappointed woman, we made our way to a spot opposite the bus station and waited. Suddenly the limousine flying the royal pennant came into view, travelling much quicker than it had in Gresley.

“Here she comes,” we cried to our new friend. There she was once more on the back seat, giving us another hearty wave and smile.

Maybe it was our companion’s enthusiasm but Princess Diana actually swivelled round and continued waving to us through the back window!

Our friend was so excited, I thought she might do herself a mischief. I, the old cynic, had a lump in my throat.

• It is 10 years since Diana's tragic death following a car crash in Paris on August 31, 1997.

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