Yes, strange though it may seem Ian was spotted wearing a rather natty summer suit last week.  The reason was what could be described as ‘The Heir meets The Hairy’.  Confused?

Ian is the Hon. Treasurer for the National Garden Scheme (NGS) in Gwent and as such was invited to meet HRH The Prince of Wales on one of his Wales Week visits, along with the other Gwent officers and some from other local organisations.

The meeting took place at another garden which opens for NGS (by the way we open on Sunday – hint, hint!) called High Glanau – one with a much longer history than ours as it was one of the very first to open for the Scheme.

HRH approaches

We were positioned by the Octagonal Pond and with fantastic views across to the Blorenge, Sugar Loaf and in the far distance Pen y Fan.  His Royal Highness remarked on the magnificent views and was then introduced to the team.

County Co-ordinator, Joanna Kerr explains about the NGS

On being told I was the Treasurer, the Prince joked that I was the one keeping the rest in order, “trying to” was the reply! We then discussed the NGS and I was asked to describe our garden, which I probably didn’t do as well as Sue would have done, but there wasn’t much time to think or reply! He’s a thoroughly nice guy, who puts everyone at ease and seems genuinely interested.

Then it was time to be off to the next group, who were watching us while waiting.

As we went back into the house I managed to get a copy of our garden leaflet into the hands of his Private Secretary, so one never knows if a call may one day come in from Clarence House or Highgrove – after all Sue has been to his garden, so it only seems fair to reciprocate!!

Photos by Des Pugh