Royal opening for Millom ARLFC

His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh, yesterday opened the Millom Amateur Rugby League Club's new ?204,000 Changing Rooms and Community Centre.

The Cumbrian based Millom club, which was formed in 1873, is the oldest BARLA club.

The Millom Chairman Peter Date welcomed the Duke when he arrived by helicopter and landed at the Coronation Field ground.

The Duke was presented to a guard of honour of young school children, drawn from the clubs thriving "mini rugby" section, before unveiling the commemorative plaque to mark the occasion.

Peter Date said, "We are delighted that the Duke kindly agreed to open our excellent new facilities. It is a great boost for the Millom club and the local community for this to happen in our 130th anniversary year. By good fortune it is also exactly 50 years since our ground was opened and named after the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.