On the day of his funeral, Godalming people remember Prince Philip's visits

As the nation prepared to bid farewell to the late Duke of Edinburgh at his funeral last Saturday, Godalming Nub News looked back at two of his visits to our part of the world, memories of which came flooding back on the announcement of his death on April 9th.

In 1978 the Duke thrilled children at Rodborough School by landing a helicopter on the school field during a visit to meet pupils taking part in his Duke of Edinburgh's award scheme.

Nigel Charman, who was a pupil at the time, said: "The Duke of Edinburgh was coming to the school to hand out some DofE awards. He flew into the school in a Queen's Flight Wessex helicopter, which he piloted, from what I can remember.

"The queen's flight helicopters were painted red and navy blue.

"If the Duke of Edinburgh was travelling anywhere by the Queen's Flight helicopters he would fly them himself. I can remember it coming in to land on the sports field behind the RoSLA building."

Kevin Phillips, also a pupil at the time of the visit, watched with a friend as the Duke's helicopter landed on the school field.

He said: "School had a day off that day. We went a back route from Milford Lodge and watched proceedings from a hidden distance to the far left in the foliage where Philip landed. We saw the helicopter come in and HRH Prince Philip getting out."

Catherine Bishop was working as a cashier at Panda House in Ockford Road, the HQ of the World Wildlife Fund, when the Duke visited in the 1980s to officially open the building. At the time he was the President of WWF-International.

She said: "He was a very funny man and caring of wildlife. I remember he spoke to nearly all the people who worked there. RIP your Highness and condolences to the royal family."