HEAVY rain did not deter crowds turning out for a visit from Prince Charles, chronicled in the Gazette 25 years ago.

The Prince arrived by helicopter at the girls' college playing field and was whisked up to the Winter Gardens, where that year's Malvern Festival was in full swing - the main reason for his visit.

A large crowd were patiently waiting under umbrellas in Priory Park for the Prince to unveil a plaque marking the 50th anniversary of the festival.

As the patron of the Elgar Foundation, the Prince said he had a particular interest in the festival and congratulated Malvern Festival Society for starting it up again.

"I think it's an excellent idea to expand it to include plays by Shaw and his contemporaries. Sir Barry Jackson would have approved", he said.

Prince Charles also paid a visit to the Boehm of Malvern porcelain company, where he was given a tour by its US owner Helen Boehm.

He also visited the Elgar Birthplace, at Lower Broadheath. Here, Prince Charles saw a model of the statue of Elgar which was later erected in Worcester's High Street.

In the evening, the Prince returned to the Winter Gardens for a concert featuring the Dream of Gerontius. He ended the day with a private party at the Abbey Hotel.