Princess Anne visits Amberley Museum in West Sussex

The Princess Royal flew to Amberley Museum today, December 5, to unveil the newly refurbished bagging shed and congratulate volunteers on their hard work.

Her Royal Highness was given a tour of the 36-acre historical grounds and met staff and volunteers along the way.

The princess was greeted by staff and dignitaries such as chairman of Horsham District Council Councillor Nigel Emery, director of the museum Katrina Burton and the Lord-Lieutenant of West Sussex Lady Emma Barnard.

She was then shown Joan the steam road roller, manufactured in 1925, by Hannah Hunnisett, Bob Jones and Nick Pidgely. The roller worked until 1983.

Princess Anne meets Joan the steam roller and the volunteers who look after her (Image: The Argus) Speaking to The Argus before Princess Anne arrived, Hannah said: “It’s all a bit surreal.

“Off the back of having the King’s award this year it’s a bit of a double whammy. It’s very nice.”

The museum received the King’s Award for Voluntary Service this year, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK.

The princess was also shown a tunnel which was used for the filming of the 1985 Bond film A View to Kill.

Along the route around the site, keen and excited volunteers were lined up near the exhibits and artefacts they look after ready to meet Her Royal Highness.

Outside the Southdown Bus Garage, which contains a collection of restored 20th century buses and tramocars, one volunteer presented Her Royal Highness with a bus ticket.

The moment Princess Anne was given a bus ticket (Image: The Argus) Towards the end of the tour, Princess Anne was gifted with a handmade traditional walking stick by expert stick maker Ken Wood.

It was crafted out of hazel with a walnut horse head on top.

READ MORE: Live: Princess Anne visits Shoreham, Chichester, Amberley

Ken, 86, who has been making walking sticks for between 25 and 30 years, said: “She was asking me about the sticks and how they were made.

“I imagine she’ll use it when she takes her dogs out.”

Princess Anne being presented with her new walking stick (Image: The Argus) At the end of her tour, Princess Anne headed into the newly restored bagging shed and loading bay.

She was shown around by museum curator John Betts, who told The Argus: “I was in the kiln area.

“I was talking about how the area was used, how lime mortar was used.

“She was very knowledgeable. She was talking about the importance of lime mortar.”

Finally, Her Royal Highness unveiled a new plaque commemorating the restored bagging shed and loading bay at the museum.

Princess Anne gives her speech (Image: The Argus) In a speech to a crowd of volunteers and guests, Princess Anne said: “I am delighted to join you all for this part of the turn of the museum site.

“But also to congratulate you on your King’s Award.

“The number of volunteers here has made the difference.

“So thank you all very much indeed for making that possible and for making such good use of the site.

“Thank you and I can wish you well for the future but I’m sure you will think of something else you would like to add to this.

“So, thank you.”

Museum volunteer Martin Piggott, 65, also got to speak to Princess Anne during the visit.

Museum volunteer Martin said the visit ‘made it all feel worthwhile’ (Image: The Argus) He said: “I live in Shoreham so she asked me about how I got here and where I came from.

“It just makes you think it’s all worthwhile taking part in these things and our efforts are good.

“It’s a lovely place.”

Amberley Museum was not the only place in Sussex Her Royal Highness visited today, starting off in Shoreham for a visit to the National Coastwatch station there.

Princess Anne is royal patron of the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), a charity run entirely by volunteers.

She also visited the Rolls Royce factory in Chichester.