From shoes to tyres, it was a day for getting around as the Prince of Wales headed to the Midlands on Monday. Charles cabbed it in Coventry and put his best foot forward in Northampton as he toured organisations keeping alive old traditions and putting the power into modern technologies.
The day began with the past meeting the present as Charles stepped into Drapers’ Hall in Coventry to see the plans under way there to turn the 19th century building into an arts facility. The Prince’s Foundation is overseeing the project which will provide a music education centre for young people. Drapers’ Hall, which is Grade II listed, will also become a performance venue.
Charles’ next stop was the factory of the London EV Company based in Coventry which make the capital’s iconic black cabs. The prince toured the facility, speaking to many of those who work there including apprentices, and was given an overview of the taxis the firm has made through the years from the model that came off the production line in the year Charles was born to the latest electric version of the famous car.
From there, the Prince of Wales headed to Northamptonshire for two visits linked to one of the county’s most famous industries, shoemaking. First stop for Charles was the factory of Trickers Shoes which celebrates its 190th anniversary this year. It’s also a royal warrant holder and the heir to the throne saw demonstrations of the traditional methods which are used by the company.
The final stop for Charles on Monday was at the Gaziano and Girling shoe factory in Kettering which opened in 2009, making it the first such facility to open in Nortamptonshire for over a century. The prince saw more shoe making demonstrations as he was shown how the firm uses traditional methods for its bespoke and ready to wear shoes.
