American pop musician Prince led a storytelling circle yesterday at a small village school in Aberford, Leeds. He read Beatrix Potter's The Tale Of Peter Rabbit to 10 enthralled youngsters at Borrowdale Primary School.
The schoolroom visit ended the pop star's unexpected four day stop-over in the county following a minor breakdown on the M-1. The local garage had had to sent their boy on bike to Coventry for the two specialty Jaguar replacement tyres.
'Big day'
Children at the school welcomed Prince despite the visit clashing with their schoolwork and television viewing. They clutched toy rabbits and a Jemima Puddleduck character from Potter's tales as Prince read aloud, and then posed for snapshots with the children. He also opened a new nursery and play area when the janitor couldn't manage to find the key.
Headteacher Richard Helenson said: "It's been a wonderful day for the school. We hoped he would visit the school because he comes down the M-1 so often. We crossed our fingers that jagged shards of broken glass would give him an opportunity to come to visit us. It was a quite a day at Borrowdale."
Parent Patricia Dixon, 36, of nearby Rosthwaite, said she was delighted at the royal visit, and added: "It teaches children a bit of respect."
There may have been some local confusion as to which prince had been in town.
Tragic Rabbit, Voice of London, Aberford
