Town halls manager Richard Batterby turned VIP chaperone for the Tour de France.

Richard, 40, who is a business development manager for Kirklees Council, looked after Prime Minister David Cameron at the Grand Depart in Harrogate on Saturday.

Click below for pictures from the Leeds-Harrogate stage of Le Tour

Richard, based mainly at Huddersfield and Dewsbury town halls, also got to meet Royalty – the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry watch as Mark Cavendish (not pictured) falls from his bike near the finish line of Stage 1 of the Tour de France in Harrogate. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Saturday July 5, 2014. See PA story SPORT Tour. Photo credit should read: Chris Jackson/PA Wire

Richard was on duty at a champagne reception at a Harrogate art gallery for dignitaries – including Communities Secretary Eric Pickles – and then had to lead the VIPs to a seating area at the finish line.

“We had to escort people through a 20-deep crowd which kept us entertained,” he said. “It was like herding cats at times. We put up umbrellas and told the VIPs to follow the umbrellas through the crowd.”

After the reception half-a-dozen tour makers were chosen and told to go to a hotel to meet a VIP. It turned out to be Mr Cameron.

Richard, who was also an Olympics games maker and a VIP manager at the Rugby League World Cup, said: “Mr Cameron asked us why we were doing it and where we were from and then we took him across to the stands where we sat next to him.”

After the riders had come through Richard was waiting with the other tour makers when the Royal party appeared.

“We ended up chatting with Kate, William and Harry,” said Richard. “It wasn’t your average Saturday in Harrogate.”

Richard had also been booked for the end of day two in Sheffield but wasn’t needed.

“I ended up watching it on TV,” he said. “It was great recognising all the places you know so well.

“Really I couldn’t have got any closer than I did on Saturday.”

 

 

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