Royal blessing for Land Rover plant

May 13 2008 By Gary Marks

THE Prince of Wales was due in the West Midlands today, visiting Solihull and Birmingham.

First stop for Prince Charles was Land Rover's Lode Lane plant where he was set to joining in its 60th anniversary celebrations.

He was being met by director George Hassall before going on to cut the Land Rover 60th birthday cake.

Then he was planning to tour the T5 Body in White plant and see the extensive use of robots which are used to construct the bodies for Discovery 3 and Range Rover Sport vehicles.

The Prince was also due to inspect the T5 Trim and Final Assembly plants.

At the end of the assembly line he was set to receive a Defender 100 Station Wagon which will be used by a trust on an estate in Dumfries, Scotland.

Prince Charles was then set to move on to visit patients at the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine at Selly Oak Hospital.

He was also meeting with military and civilian medical staff involved in the care and treatment of British service men and women.

The RCDM provides secondary and specialist care for members of the armed forces injured overseas.

It also provides dedicated training for defence personnel, in partnership with the University of Birmingham and the University of Central England.

Military staff at the centre treat both military and civilian patients.