ONE of the highlights of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh's visit to Shropshire must have been the rousing welcome from children greeting them as they arrived at the Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms for lunch.

Centre Operations Manager Sandy Rowson, who has since found "disbelief creeping in" at the enormity of the event in which she was so closely involved, said: "The children from Stokesay School and Wistanstow gave a such a roar as they arrived it sent goosepimples down my spine.

"The atmosphere was fantastic and I was so pleased so many local people turned up to line the entrance to the centre."

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh arrived in Craven Arms from Much Wenlock in the royal car to a waiting party of about 80 guests invited by Shropshire County Council.

The Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire, Algernon Heber-Percy and the Vice Lord Lieutenant Simon Kenyon-Slaney, presented the chairman of Shropshire County Council, Major Adrian Coles and Mrs Pam Coles, to the Royal couple who later sat next to the Royal couple at lunch.

Carolyn Downs, chief executive of the county council, and Sandy Rowson were next to be presented.

There was a special moment as centre staff member Laura Whatmore, 19, who suffers from Dystonia's Disease, presented a posy to Her Majesty. She said afterwards: "It was a bit nerve wracking but the Queen was really nice and said thank you for the flowers."

The county's two Deputy Lord-Lieutenants, Ann Flint and Sarah Bury of south Shropshire, introduced The Queen and Prince Philip to representatives of a number of Shropshire organisations.

The Royal party then went into the centre for a walkround and then for ten minutes to a rest room where special soft furnishings were in place and a lace table cloth with a large vase of sweet peas.

Lunch in the marquee decorated with huge displays of cream roses included avocado and smoked chicken in pink grapefruit dressing, wild salmon and fresh raspberries with caramel ice-cream.

The Bishop of Ludlow, the Right Reverend Michael Hooper, said grace and Major Coles proposed the Loyal Toast afterwards.

Major Coles said of the Royal couple: "They were such easy people to talk to and so charming. They were great table companions putting one at ease so very soon. We talked about general matters. I was next to the Queen and she showed great interest in our area."

Sandy Rowson summed up: "It was not nearly so formal as I expected but very relaxed and I can describe the Queen even as very down to earth."

Two hours after their arrival, the Queen and the Duke went back to the royal car for their journey to Ludlow accompanied by a huge chant of "we want the Queen" from the schoolchildren.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh's visit to the South Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre in Craven Arms delighted the local Wood Brewery.

"We were asked to provide some of our draught and bottled Shropshire Lad bitter for the lunchtime function and I'm delighted that the Duke of Edinburgh reportedly sampled both and approved," said brewery Managing Director, Edward Wood.