THE Queen praised Capel Manor College as “wonderful” today when she visited to open a new signature garden.
Arriving by helicopter, then pulling up in a bulletproof burgundy Bentley without a numberplate, she was greeted by college Chief Executive Stephen Dowbiggin, the Duke of Devonshire and Andrew Parker Bowles and Lord Graham of Edmonton.
She was presented with posies from children of members of staff before witnessing a display from arboriculturalists, or tree surgeons.
She then took a tour of the gardens, where students from the animal management course displayed Shetland ponies, goats, bearded dragons, a chameleon and a lizard which was being led about on a lead.
She also stopped to look at the Queen Mother Memorial Garden which had been created for the Queen Mother and opened by her in 2001 when she was 101.
Sharon Curtis, a gardener with the college, made a display of the Queen's initials in golden pyrethrum in an alternanthera background which the Queen stopped to look at on her approach to the college.
She said: "It took four days, but she said she liked it so that is the main thing. It's quite an honour really."
The Queen was also presented with a bridle which had been hand sewn by 25 sadlery students, which was made of Sedgwick English leather, dark havana in colour.
Student Szilvia Komondi, 30, of Hungary, said the Queen had asked who made it and whether it was a full or warm blood bridle - which denotes the type of horse to wear it.
She said: "It was really amazing to be actually handing something to her, unfortgettable really. It was once in a lifetime."
The college was kept open during the day and had allowed artists to paint and draw in the gardens on its grounds and students planting geraniums.
Stephen Dowbiggin, college chief executive, made a short speech thanking the Queen for the "great honour" of opening the Old Manor House Garden, which she did by unveiling a plaque.
He said: "The idea is to create a signature garden which tells the whole story of Capel Manor, not only in terms of its history but also what we have done. We have encouraged people to use horticulture in an imaginative way.”
The college, which was started as a way of restoring the original Capel Manor estate, now has 2,500 students and operates in five centres across London.
Dr Dowbiggin added: “She really knows her plants. The thing that was for me fantastic was she met all the people she had to but every time she saw a student, she talked to them."
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