HRH Duchess of Gloucester opened a brand new arts and music centre at Truro High School today, Wednesday 17 April.
Hundreds of pupils waved Saint Piran's and Union Jack flags as the Duchess unveiled a plaque to officially open the brand new £500,000 Piran Performing Arts Centre at the school. The Duchess was joined by 7-year-old Miriam George, the youngest member of the school's prep choir, who helped unveil the plaque.
Headmistress of Truro High School, Caroline Pascoe, gave the Duchess a tour of the new centre, which has been refurbished to house all of the school's music and arts programmes.
As part of the tour, the Duchess was treated to a performance of 'Any Dream Will Do', sung by the school's prep choir before a short extract from the Shakespeare play A Midsummer Night's Dream put on by pupils from the school.
Ms Pascoe said: "It's incredible to have the Duchess open the new block. The building used to be the drama area, but we have totally refurbished it to incorporate arts and music, all under one roof.
"The Duchess was very personable with the students, which was wonderful to see. Many of them have not met a member of the Royal Family before. She asked the pupils questions such as 'if they enjoy drama and music at school', and complemented the drama pupils on their costumes, the pupils were thrilled."
The new arts centre boasts half a dozen private music practice rooms, a theatre, performance room and an IT suite fully equipped with Apple iMac computers.
Mayor of Truro councillor Lindsay Southcombe attended the launch event: "It's great to see such an amazing facility to help young people to develop their skills.
"Parents have turned out for the occasion to, there is a lot of support from the people of Truro here today."
