Royal visit ‘a huge honour’: Plumpton College welcomes Queen Camilla as part of centenary year celebrations

The college said Queen Camilla was welcomed by Principal and CEO Jeremy Kerswell and Chair of Governors Julie Dougill before meeting staff and students on a walk through the college’s 800-hectare estate and campus.

Plumpton College said The Queen has strong links to the college and the local area and is Patron of the Plumpton College Charitable Foundation and WineGB.

Jeremy Kerswell said: “It’s a huge honour to welcome Her Majesty to Plumpton College during this special year for the college. It was a privilege to share our centenary celebrations, showcase the £40m investment we have made in our campus over the past decade for sector leading technical resources, and give students the opportunity to speak directly about their learning and ambitions.”

During her visit, Her Majesty toured the Animal Education Centre with students and saw the new lemur enclosure. She also visited the Veterinary Studies Centre. This opened in 2023 and has commercial training facilities, such as a canine hydrotherapy pool, which aim to give students experience in a working environment.

The college said also it updated Queen Camilla on its continuing contribution to the English and Welsh wine sector. The Queen met viticulture degree students at the AgriFood centre where she heard about the recently planted Digital Centenary Vineyard. Plumpton College said it was proud to receive the Queen’s Anniversary Prize from Her Majesty in 2023 in recognition of its impact on the sector.

Her Majesty also met apprentices from the School of Bakery, which was launched recently and aims to provide the next generation of bakers for production and commercial bakeries.

The Royal visit concluded with The Queen unveiling a plaque outside the AgriFood Centre to commemorate 100 years of land and environment education at the South Downs campus.

Jeremy Kerswell said: “Plumpton College continues to grow as more students choose to study with us and prepare for careers in the land and environment sector, where new entrants are in demand more than ever before. We are especially grateful for Her Majesty’s support for the Plumpton College Charitable Foundation, which helps ensure that more students can access education and training in these vital industries.

“Our purpose remains as strong today as it was 100 years ago: to support the future of food, our land and the environment, and to equip students with the skills they need for a changing world.”