THE president of Salisbury and District Chamber of Commerce and a former Amesbury mayor has shared a special childhood memory of meeting and getting teased by the Duke of Edinburgh. 

Andy Rhind-Tutt met Prince Philip who was accompanying the Queen on a visit to Salisbury on March 28, 1974.

He joined his family as well as many spectators in the city to see the Queen and had his camera at the ready to snap a picture of Her Royal Highness The Queen. 

"I was eight-years-old, it was 1974 I believe and it was when the Queen and Prince Philip visited Salisbury. I believe it was the opening of the Old George Mall shopping centre," recalls Andy. 

"I was stood with my sister and my mum, and I had my little tiny camera that held eight photos only. I was on film number six I believe and the Queen came along and she looked at me and smiled."

He recalls being delighted to get a picture of the Queen and then Prince Philip bending down to speak to him. 

Andy continues: "I took a picture and was so proud and a moment or so later Prince Philip came by me and stopped to talk. He stopped for me to take a photograph and he said 'I bet you haven't got a film in that camera'. 

"I was so nervous because he'd spoken to me that I took the photograph and then realised I hadn't wound the film on.

"He disappeared and when I got the film developed I've got the Queen and Prince Philip on one photograph, which is going to be very difficult to unpick.

"But it is a happy memory."

Salisbury Journal:

Andy, a former Mayor of Amesbury, got the chance to meet the Royal couple again in May, 2012 when they visited Salisbury Cathedral.

He said it was a "moving experience" that he will never forget.

He recalls Prince Philip coming into the marquee and heading towards the mayors and then commenting on Andy's mayoral chains, which depicted Stonehenge. He said Prince Philip smiled and said "How can you possibly be the mayor of Stonehenge. They don't have any residents" then started laughing. 

Andy's reply was "Well sir it will do when they put the roof on".

Salisbury Journal:

Prince Philip meeting the mayors of the area   Picture by Andy Rhind-Tutt

"We both fell about laughing," said Andy. "It is just one of those memories that will stick with me probably for the rest of my life."

The nation has fallen silent today in memory of the Duke of Edinburgh as his funeral takes place.

The Prince of Wales and Princess Royal led senior royals in walking behind their father’s coffin the short distance from Windsor Castle to St George’s Chapel.

Prince Philip's coffin was carried on a custom-built Land Rover Defender hearse designed by the duke and modified over 16 years.

Salisbury has paid tribute to the Duke Edinburgh. 

Members of Salisbury Community Policing Team and Salisbury CID took part in a minute’s silence outside Bourne Hill Police Station today.

As did staff at Salisbury District Hospital.

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