9:23pm Friday 30th October 2009
By Michael Black
Princess Anne paid a flying visit to Silsden yesterday.
She landed on playing fields in a helicopter and was taken by motorcade to Snugpak, in Howden Road.
The specialist sleeping bag and outdoor clothing company won the Queen’s Award for Enterprise earlier this year after boosting its overseas exports by 77 per cent since 2006.
The Princess Royal called in to officially present the prestigious accolade in person.
Company bosses took her on a tour of their Waterloo Mill premises, explaining the manufacturing process and introducing her to members of the 54-strong workforce.
At the end of the tour, most of the staff assembled in the packing and despatch area, where the princess unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit.
Susan Parrish, one of the company’s co-owners, said: “I felt it was great for the staff because they’ve worked so hard.
“These aren’t the best times, but we’ve still been able to recruit more staff.
“A lot of our workers have been here a long time and some of them have got skills which are now hard to find.”
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