Guest wowpow Posted October 8, 2007 Posted October 8, 2007 Crown Prince of Thailand Maha Vajiralongkorn Heir to throne of Thailand jets into Worthing England The heir to the throne of Thailand made a flying visit to Sussex today for a reunion with his former teacher. Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn stopped at a detached house in Pevensey Road, Worthing, to take tea with Jessie Webster, now in her nineties, who taught members of the Thai royal family in the 1960s. The visit was private, and Mrs Webster's family said she did not want to comment. Only a handful of people in the town were aware that the crown prince was coming, including the Deputy Mayor of Worthing, coun Christine Brown, who greeted him with a curtsey on arrival. She said: "I'm told she hasn't seen him for 30 years, although she has spoken to him on the phone. "She taught him over there in the sixties. She was a member of the royal family in effect. She was thrilled to see him of course. When he arrived she said 'it is lovely to see you'. "I believe he was only in the country for five hours, so the fact that he came to visit her makes it very special." The crown prince arrived at the wheel of a black Mercedes with the registration Thai1, followed by a fleet of personal bodyguards and embassy attaches, all wearing black suits and gold or yellow ties, in limousines and people carriers. Shortly before he turned up, two garden contractors working nearby were politely asked by Thai officials to turn off their wood-chipping machinery parked in the road. Tree surgeon Paul Bimson, of Worthing firm Arboriscapes, said: "I was very surprised, but said 'no problem'. I wondered if he might want my card." The prince's staff carried two bouquets of flowers into the house, and he spent about 50 minutes inside as a small group of curious neighbours gathered outside. They included Sara Chisnall, 40, and her two sons, Harry, 11, and Tom, eight, who are both pupils at West Park School in Goring, Worthing. As the prince emerged, he bowed to Mrs Webster and gave her a formal hug before getting into his car. Mrs Webster, aided by a walking stick, waved from her doorstep and the prince waved back from the driving seat. He then drove off along the seafront, followed in convoy by his entourage. Born on July 28, 1952, the prince was educated at a primary school in Bangkok, and then at Millfield School, Somerset, and The King's School, Sydney. He was made heir at the age of 20 and served as an officer in the Thai military, holding the ranks of general, admiral and air chief marshal, though his role in recent years has become increasingly ceremonial. The prince, whose equivalent in Britain is Prince Charles, is the only son of King Rama IX and Queen Sirikit. 6:03pm Thursday 4th October 2007 http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/localnews/d...to_worthing.php via MF and JB Quote
