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The University of Huddersfield was pleased to welcome Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to its Queensgate Campus as part of their visit to West Yorkshire on 24 May.
The University was invited to host the Civic Lunch, which welcomed Her Majesty to the town. During her visit, the Queen unveiled a foundation stone for the institution's new Creative Arts Building.
"We are very proud that the University was chosen as the venue for the Civic Lunch," said the University's Vice-Chancellor, Professor Bob Cryan. "As part of her visit, Her Majesty kindly agreed to unveil the Foundation Stone for our new flagship building for the creative arts, which represents an overall investment of £14 million. The new structure, at the entrance to the campus, demonstrates the University's commitment to provide excellent student facilities, and the institution's important role in the future of Huddersfield as a creative town."
Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived at the campus shortly after 12.15pm accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant for West Yorkshire, Dr Ingrid Roscoe.
On their arrival, the Royal Party were introduced to Mr John Brennan, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, and Mrs Claire Brennan, Mr Rob Vincent, Chief Executive of Kirklees Council, and Mrs Heather Vincent, Cllr Jean Calvert, Mayor of Kirklees, and her consort, Mr Shane Eastwood, and Professor Bob Cryan, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, and Mrs Kathleen Cryan.
The Queen was escorted to the Civic Lunch by the Vice-Chancellor, who in an opening address welcomed Her Majesty to the University. Approximately 70 guests attended the lunch which include leading figures from the town and the University. The Grace was said by the Bishop of Wakefield, The Rt Revd Stephen Platten, who is a member of the University's Governing Council.
The meal for the Civic Lunch - held in the University's Castle Hill Suite beautifully decorated with flowers - was provided by Asian food specialists, the Mumtaz group of companies of Bradford. The Mumtaz specialise in traditional Kashmiri cooking and their chefs, led by Mumtaz Director Mr Rab Nawaz, started early in the University's kitchens preparing a three-course meal 'fit for a queen'.
As well as traditional Kashmiri starters and desert, the Royal Party and guests enjoyed a selection of main-course dishes which included a dish of Lamb and Spinach, Karahi Okra, Paneer Shahi, and Karahi Murgh Makhani. The latter is already referred to as 'The Royal Curry' and is one of the Mumtaz Restaurant's best-selling dishes. The lunch concluded with a short speech from the Mayor of Kirklees, Cllr Jean Calvert. On leaving the luncheon, Her Majesty was introduced to the Mumtaz chefs who had prepared the meal.
Before the leaving the University, The Queen unveiled the Foundation Stone for the University's new Creative Arts Building - a £14 million project that will adorn the entrance of the University's Queensgate Campus. Before unveiling the stone, The Queen was introduced to the University's Mr Chris Brown (Chair of the University's Governing Council), Dr Tim Thorton (Dean of the School of Music, Humanities & Media), Ms Emma Hunt (Dean of the School of Art, Design & Architecture), Mr Colin Blair (Director of Estates & Facilities) and Professor John Tarrant, the former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield. Professor Tarrant retired in December last year, but through his foresight and hard work the £14 million venture is now becoming a reality.
Her Majesty unveiled the Foundation Stone to applause from an assembled crowd of University staff and students, who had gathered early and waited patiently for their moment to cheer The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.
University of Huddersfield News |
