12:10pm Saturday 13th June 2009
By Arron Hendy
THE Queen has created a ‘buzz’ in Weymouth and Portland that traders and officials are hoping will remain for the summer.
Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh’s visit on Thursday has left tourism workers and council chiefs celebrating a tremendous boost for the area.
Business owners said the ‘perfect’ weather showed the area in its best light and are hoping the royal visit will inspire crowds to follow in their footsteps.
Weymouth and Portland mayor Anne Kenwood said the Queen and Duke called the visit ‘a very good advert for Weymouth and Portland’ that will be good for our hotels and businesses.
The mayor welcomed the Queen and Duke to Weymouth Beach when they arrived on a Sunseeker Yacht and said ‘Welcome to Weymouth.’ She added: “This can’t fail to make it better so we are in for a good summer.
“Weymouth and Portland are on the up.”
Robert Gutteridge, owner of the Tea Cabin on Weymouth Esplanade, said the crowds were a boost to business.
He said: “It was absolutely brilliant we had loads of people here.
“And it was good to see an interest in the monarchy.
“It really was a good day for business and I wish she would come every week.
“There was a big buzz in the town and it was perfect weather from beginning to end.”
Weymouth and Portland Borough Council’s tourism spokesman Brendan Webster believes the visit will help traders.
He said: “The coverage has been very good and I think the Queen enjoyed it.
“If the beach is good enough for Her Majesty then it’s good enough for anybody.
“It looked lovely on the television and it was also good for the sailing academy.”
Sailing academy chief executive John Tweed agreed the visit had made it ‘a brilliant day and a memorable occasion.’ He said: “Even the weather co-operated.
“It was great for them to be able to see the whole range of activities we do here from young people sailing for the first time right up to talking to some of the Olympic hopefuls.”
Mr Tweed said he joined the Queen and Duke on their trip on the Sunseeker yacht to show them the racing areas.
Professor Denys Brunsden – the Jurassic Coast expert who championed the Dorset and Devon shoreline to gain World Heritage Site status, was also on the yacht to pass on his knowledge.
Sand sculptor Mark Anderson is taking a well-earned rest after he and his team worked tirelessly to get a sand version of Windsor Castle ready for the visit.
He said: “I would not be surprised if it was a help for our business.
“It was an extremely positive experience all round and there was a real buzz in the crowd.”
After leaving Weymouth, the Queen and Duke visited Bovington Tank Museum.
Director Richard Smith said the visit came at the best possible time with the tank festival happening in two weeks.
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