Prince pays tribute to Redcar resilience

Prince Charles has paid tribute to Teesside's extraordinary 'reserve' of resilience' in coping after the closure of SSI.

The Prince has unveiled a plaque at the Redcar & Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart, where he paid tribute to the local community's resilience and great sense of humour.

He said: I wasn't really expecting to say anything, but for me it's the greatest possible pleasure to come back to this part of the world where I know you have been through so many difficult times.

I remember coming here six years ago during another difficult time but, if I may say so, despite the horrors you have faced, somehow, in this remarkable part of the world, you have these extraordinary reserves of resilience and, above all, the most wonderful sense of humour.

How you keep it I don't know, it's very infectious and very special.

If I may say so, I remember I had an aunt who said 'accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative' and in many ways I hope today at least, despite the many negatives there are, I still feel with your extraordinary reserves of ingenuity going back so many years as steel has been made here for 170 years, you've been at the forefront of this country's industrial manufacturing success.

I feel very strongly that there seems to be huge opportunities for this area to be a centre of excellence in engineering and manufacturing, as that's what made this country so great.

What I can tell you is I have nothing but the greatest admiration for the way you can with your skills apply such ingenuity and determination and, indeed, humour in what you do.

And I look forward to coming back on many other occasions. But now I will attempt to unveil this plaque and I hope they give you a stiff drink to help you recover.''

He also spent time speaking to a group of former steelworkers who lost their jobs after the plant closed.

Peter Rodgers, who was a deputy supervisor at the coke ovens, said his visit would hopefully raise awareness of the thousands of jobs that had been lost.

He asked us if we had started doing any training and if there were any jobs available,'' he said. It hopefully will raise awareness because it seems to have died down now. I worked there for over 20 years and was a massive part of my life taken away. I'm not too sure what difference his visit will make but it's good that he's come.''