Crowning glory for Garstang cheese makers

The smile on the face of HRH Prince Charles was eloquent testimony to his delight at the VIP tour around Dewlay Cheesemakers at Garstang.

The hour-long visit today included a tour of the Garstang By-Pass Road dairy, guided by managing directors brothers Nick and Richard Kenyon.

After being shown how Lancashire cheese is made and graded, Prince Charles met principal Ann Turner and agricultural students from nearby Myerscough College and farmers from the farms which supply Dewlay with milk.

There was time too to meet Edwin Booth of Booths Supermarkets, trustee of the Prince’s Countryside Fund and Steven Holmes who set up Farm Yard Ales at Cockerham, with the aid of the fund.

The Prince concluded his visit, which followed trips to Clitheroe and British Aerospace at Samlesbury, by unveiling a commemorative plaque outside the dairy’s visitor centre and cheese shop.

Nick Kenyon recalled how 60 years ago his grandfather George set out to produce “the best Lancashire cheese on the market”, a tradition continued by his late father Neil.

The Prince was shown the original “Make Book” with the recipe for Lancashire cheese which is still used today.

It was a family affair for the Kenyons, with the fourth generation lining up to bid Prince Charles farewell.

Harriet Kenyon, eight, presented the Prince with a basket of the firm’s cheeses, sparking laughter when she announced: “I don’t like cheese.”

Afterwards, Richard Kenyon said:“It was an absolutely amazing experience. Prince Charles is very knowledgeable on cheese and it was a real privilege to be able to show him and educate him on Lancashire cheese.”

Meanwhile brother Nick revealed the Prince had also proved partial to another of their cheeses - the Brie like Garstang White.