Royal launch for Leamington's Linden Arches

Buy photos » The Duke of Gloucester raises a smile for our photographer despite the miserable weather as dignitaries walk under one of the reinstated arches after the opening ceremony. Picture by Jon Mullis 24.012.001.leam.jm5 (www.buyphotos247.com)

THE DUKE of Gloucester officially marked the completion of the project to reinstate the Linden Arches in Leamington.

The Queen's first cousin brought an end to the four year project to restore the avenue of arches in the Pump Room Gardens with the unveiling of a plaque.

Not deterred by the rain, the Duke said it was a pleasure to once again visit Leamington and commented how good the arches looked.

The Victorian arches were originally installed in 1875 and came down in various stages. The restoration was a central part of Warwick District Council’s Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations, with the arches featuring golden globes and gilded crowns.

The £100,000 project was a partnership between the Friends of Leamington Pump Rooms and the district council.

Local businesses and individuals donated over £60,000, while the council made a £40,000 contribution.

After unveiling the arches the Duke moved on to Kenilworth where he will officially open Jubilee House, which opened for business earlier this year, bringing together a number of public and community organisations, including Kenilworth Town Council, the Police, Kenilworth Senior Citizens club and MP Jeremy Wright.

The name Jubilee House was the winning entry in a competition organised by the district council, and was proposed to

mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and to commemorate its opening in 2012.

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