Car factory is fascinating for princess (From Malvern Gazette)

Car factory is fascinating for princess

3:17pm Friday 17th April 2009

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THE Princess Royal got a close-up look at how Morgan cars are made when she visited the factory on Friday to help the firm celebrate its centenary.

The princess was given a full tour of the plant in Pickersleigh Road, led by company chairman Charles Morgan, who showed her in detail how the hand-made cars are put together by a staff of dedicated craftsmen.

As well as meeting the company's executives, the Princess Royal was introduced to workers in every stage of the production process.

In the assembly shop, sheet metal workers John Bishop and Barry White showed the Princess how they used a special hand-operated tool to make the bonnet louvres which are one of the characteristics of Morgans marques.

Mr White said afterwards that the Princess seemed fascinated by their work and asked questions about the tool they were using. "She wanted to know how we judged the distances between the louvres and we showed her how it was set up to do that," he said. "She seemed really interested."

The Princess also saw how Morgan keeps traditional manufacturing skills alive alongside new technology, and apprentices Lee Irish and Ryan Smith showed her how they combined both to make the Morgan Aero's doors. "She was really easy to talk to," said Mr Irish afterwards.

The Princess met coach trimmer Roger Bethell, who this year celebrated 50 years with the company, and she also talked to the design team, who use the latest computer technology to design the traditionally-made cars.

Outside the plant, she saw a display by members of the Morgan Three Wheelers Club and finished off her visit by unveiling a plaque in the firm's exhibition and visitors' centre.

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