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Royal visit marked with fish and chips

Naj ModakNorth East and Cumbria
BBC/Damian O'Neil The Princess Royal with her hair tied back. She has a long grey coat, a blue scarf, black gloves, black trousers and black boots. She is shaking hands with members of the South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade in their blue uniforms. There are also dignitaries in uniform. There is a brick building in the background with blue doors.BBC/Damian O'Neil
The Princess Royal also visited South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade, which marks its 160th anniversary

The Princess Royal has been served fish, chips and tartar sauce at a family-run restaurant, which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.

Colmans in South Shields, now in its fifth generation, was set up in 1926 on Ocean Road, where it still operates. The princess visited its Seafood Temple, which opened in 2017 inside a former seafront bandstand.

Director Richard Colman Ord said it felt "like a full circle moment" as Princess Anne had presented his dad Richard with an MBE for services to hospitality and regeneration in 2021.

The princess later visited South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade, which is marking its 160th year. Honorary secretary Tom Fennelly described it as a "momentous day".

He said: "It's a tremendous honour in this, the 160th year of the founding of the brigade, and we are very proud of our long meritorious record in life-saving, which has continued unbroken from that day to this."

PA Media The Princess Royal arriving at the Colmans Seafood Temple in South Shields. She is wearing a smart blue-green suit. TV cameras are behind them.PA Media
Princess Anne arriving at Colmans Seafood Temple in South Shields, with Richard Colman Ord (left), Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear Lucy Winskell and Dominic Colman (right)

The princess also spent time chatting to some of the brigade's volunteers at its Grade II listed watch house.

Among those who turned out were local schoolchildren, who greeted her with flags and presented flowers.

Some told BBC Look North she had tested them on their knowledge of staying safe near the cliffs and sea.

"It's a really good experience to have, not many people get to see the Princess Royal," said one excited pupil.

BBC/Damian O'Neil Princess Anne meets a small group of schoolchildren who are waving UK flags and hold flowersBBC/Damian O'Neil
The princess received flowers from local schoolchildren who were invited to meet her outside South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade's watch house

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