When Prince Andrew visited Shoreham to reopen the Old Toll Bridge

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank were married at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle today, but nearly ten years ago her father, Prince Andrew, was in Shoreham to officially reopen the Old Toll Bridge after restoration work.
Liza McKinney leads Prince Andrew across the newly restored toll bridge in ShorehamLiza McKinney leads Prince Andrew across the newly restored toll bridge in Shoreham
Liza McKinney leads Prince Andrew across the newly restored toll bridge in Shoreham

Here is Herald reporter Sheena Campbell's report on the Duke of York's visit from the Shoreham Herald of October 30, 2008:

Hundreds of people gathered to watch Prince Andrew open the old toll bridge at Shoreham on Thursday.

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The Duke of York was met by local dignitaries, including the chairman of the Old Shoreham Tollbridge Community Trust, Liza McKinney, who spearheaded a major fundraising campaign to repair the 230-year-old bridge.

Liza McKinney leads Prince Andrew across the newly restored toll bridge in ShorehamLiza McKinney leads Prince Andrew across the newly restored toll bridge in Shoreham
Liza McKinney leads Prince Andrew across the newly restored toll bridge in Shoreham

Mrs McKinney said: “I was determined to see this bridge restored. It’s part of our cultural heritage. When it was built, it was a tremendous engineering feat for the county. It’s part of the town’s history; we couldn’t lose it. The trust and West Sussex County Council’s success in restoring the bridge is living proof that a local community and local authority working in partnership can achieve what may seem impossible.”

After unveiling a plaque officially opening the bridge, Prince Andrew said: “What I think is particularly wonderful is that it has been restored and local people can now use it again. Congratulations on what you’ve achieved.”

| Also in the news – the masterplan for Worthing’s Brooklands Park has finally been revealed, but it does not include the much-loved miniature railway which is being removed after more than 50 years of service, and the plans have divided opinion on social media |He then chatted to year-six pupils from Buckingham Park Primary School.

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Before meeting the prince, 10-year-old Luke Mepham said: “It’s going to be really good, because I have never really met royalty before, so it will just be quite exciting. The bridge is really nice. I’ve been across it quite a few times to the air show, when it still had the railings, and now it looks really fresh and really good.”

The crowd, including Buckingham Park Primary School pupils, gathered to welcome Prince Andrew at the official reopening of the Old Toll Bridge in ShorehamThe crowd, including Buckingham Park Primary School pupils, gathered to welcome Prince Andrew at the official reopening of the Old Toll Bridge in Shoreham
The crowd, including Buckingham Park Primary School pupils, gathered to welcome Prince Andrew at the official reopening of the Old Toll Bridge in Shoreham

Ten-year-old Catherine MacDiarmaid-Gordon said: “I’m very excited. The bridge is much better because, before, it was crumbling down a bit and it needed freshening up a bit.”

| Also in the news – Labour added another councillor to its ranks on Adur District Council after claiming victory in a by-election |

Councillor Neil Parkin, leader of Adur District Council, said: “I’ve got fond memories of going over this bridge in my father’s car as a child. I’m absolutely delighted that it has been restored. Now we just need to make a final push to raise the last of the money to pay for it.”

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Clive Williams, West Sussex county councillor for Shoreham, said: “It’s taken us a while to get here. Hopefully, this has been built in such a way that it will last quite a long time.”

Prince Andrew talking to Liza McKinney as he unveils a plaque at the official reopening of the Old Toll Bridge in ShorehamPrince Andrew talking to Liza McKinney as he unveils a plaque at the official reopening of the Old Toll Bridge in Shoreham
Prince Andrew talking to Liza McKinney as he unveils a plaque at the official reopening of the Old Toll Bridge in Shoreham

The bridge reopened to the public in mid-September after six months of restoration – the most extensive work since the British Railways Corporation sold it to West Sussex County Council in 1970.

Shoreham residents at the opening expressed their delight at the bridge’s return to its former glory.

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Suzannah Murray-Wilson said: “I’m just so glad it’s been saved. It’s part of Shoreham, really. When I was training at Southlands, I used to drive over here. It used to be six old pence to cross the bridge in a car and the cycles were a penny.”

Prince Andrew talking to Buckingham Park Primary School pupils at the official reopening of the Old Toll Bridge in ShorehamPrince Andrew talking to Buckingham Park Primary School pupils at the official reopening of the Old Toll Bridge in Shoreham
Prince Andrew talking to Buckingham Park Primary School pupils at the official reopening of the Old Toll Bridge in Shoreham

Ted Axford, 85, a member of The Fellowship of Cycling Old-Timers, said: “They have made a lovely job of it; there’s no doubt about it. I used to go across here every day when I worked at the old railway works in Lancing.”

Secretary of the Old Shoreham Tollbridge Community Trust, Vera Tickler, said: “I’m absolutely delighted. There’s not much more I can say. I never thought this day would come. Everything is beautiful and it was all done by local people.”

During his tour of Shoreham, the Duke of York also visited cutting-edge engineering company Ricardo’s, near the toll bridge, and the new Shoreham Port Authority building.

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At Ricardo’s, he opened the new Sir Harry Ricardo Innovation and Sustainable Transport Centre, part of a £6.4million capital investment programme at the Shoreham technical centre.

At the port, he officially opened the £2million headquarters and was given a guided tour of the new facility and the communications centre.

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