PRINCE Edward toured a narrow boat during a trip to a Mirfield charity.
The Earl of Wessex met with users of the Safe Anchor Trust, which provides youngsters with access to the waterways.
The prince, who was visiting on behalf of his father’s Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme, looked round a canal boat used by disabled children.
He also chatted to fishermen, youngsters kayaking and the many volunteers and users of the centre.
The prince then toured the site of the Shepley Bridge Marina, before officially launching the marina project and opening the new base on Thursday.
He told visitors that he was delighted to see the centre and praised the work of volunteers.
He also spoke about his work with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, which was founded by his father, Prince Philip.
One of the lucky few to speak to the prince was seven-year-old Rosie Lloyd and her grandmother Betty Craker who decorated themselves with Union Jacks to mark the occasion.
Little Rosie said: “He said to me ‘have you got enough flags’ and smiled.
“He seems really nice.”
Her grandmother celebrated her 94th birthday last Sunday and said the royal visit was the best birthday present she could ask for.
The Safe Anchor Trust provides access to the waterways for people with special needs and hard to reach youngsters.
It works closely with the Duke of Edinburgh Awards to ensure as many young people can benefit from the centre as possible.
Saimah Laher, 15, is a member of the Batley Wildcats football team and was there to meet the prince.
She has met him once before at a reception at St James’ Palace in London as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
She met the royal visitor with five of her team mates and said: “He was really chilled out.
“He knows what we do because, when I went to London as part of the awards and met him. he saw a video about us.
“He said he was looking forward to meeting us, which was nice, and asked us more about the team.”
Team mate Aneesa Kula, also 15, added: “He was really nice to talk to, it didn’t feel like there were any barriers and he seemed interested in what we do.”
The trust was founded in 1995 and has given more than 50,000 people the chance to take to the waterways.
It is run by a team of dedicated volunteers who work alongside staff at the Duke of Edinburgh Awards, which has just spent £50,000 to restore the building at the marina.
Jane Gummer, chair of the Safe Anchor Trust, said: “We were extremely thrilled and honoured to again host a visit by one of the royals.
“It is a tremendous thank you for all the hard work the volunteers put in with the Duke of Edinburgh Award volunteers to develop the marina project.
“Such visits recognise the work of the volunteers and the trustees who give their time freely.”
Skipper Malcolm Harrison showed the prince around one of the narrow boats.
He said: “He seems very affable and was pleasant to talk to.
“From our point of view, having him come here raises the profile of the trust.
“If it wasn’t for the royal visit so many people would not be here and would not know what we are doing.”
Volunteers at the Safe Anchor Trust now hope to raise £120,000 to build a disabled access boat to meet the increasing demand.
