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Earl and Countess of
Wessex open orchard

by Angela Cole

acole@thekmgroup.co.uk

Union Jack flags were frantically
waved by hundreds of schoolchildren when they were treated to a
royal visit today.

Pupils from St John’s Primary School,
Grove Green, sang for the Earl and Countess of Wessex when they
flew in to open an orchard planted to remember the history of the
area.

They performed their Song for the Queen, written by teacher
Mandy Dennett to the tune of Greensleeves, for the royal couple,
and the Countess asked for a copy to be sent to them
afterwards.

The pair officially opened the
Weavering Diamond Jubilee Orchard in Penhurst Close, which has 43
trees in it and was planted to represent the orchards which used to
cover the area before the housing was built there.

As part of their royal duties the
couple, who flew in by helicopter, helped plant a tree and received
a basket of local produce, presented by 11-year-olds William
Stanford and Onisha Lama.

Boxley Parish Council will now take on
running the orchard. Cllr Paul Dengate from the council said: "It
was a brilliant day. We have had brilliant weather and brilliant
people helping us. The help that has gone into putting this
together has been amazing."

For full story and pictures see next
week’s Kent Messenger.