Duke meets a metal mickey

Nov 2 2006 By Emma Cullwick, Birmingham Mail

A ROYAL visitor came face-to-face with a robot which is revolutionising medical know-how when he visited Worcester to mark the first birthday of the city's university.

The Duke of Gloucester unveiled a plaque as students and staff gathered to celebrate the first year since the University of Worcester was given full university status.

He watched drama students tread the boards and a demonstration from SimMan, a highly sophisticate robot helping to train the next generation of nurses and midwives.

"It is a very great pleasure for me to come to Worcester and see how it has developed from a former college into a full-blown and active university," he said.

"In the 21st century, the challenge in this country is to maintain our lead-ership in an increasingly global market.

"It is about being able to see the opportunities and taking them, and universities will have a huge role to play in being far-sighted.

"I wish all the best to all who come here, both staff and students.

"I wish the University of Worcester every success for the 21st Century and beyond."

The duke, an architecture graduate and the Queen's cousin, was keen to learn about the university's £100 million plans to build a second campus based in the city, which also promises to boost Worcester's business, culture and nightlife.

He also visited the university's research centre, which is dedicated to finding cures for asthma, pollen and dust mite allergies, and he was engrossed by technology which uses 3D images to tackle sports injuries.