Royal visit to toyshop

A FORMER Lewes shopkeeper has good reason to remember Princess Margaret with fondness.

Peter Fellows was behind the counter of Gamleys, the toy shop (now a pet shop) in Cliffe High Street, Lewes, in 1965 when the Princess walked in with her then husband Lord Snowdon.

'At that time I was the branch manager and lived in the flat over the shop with my wife and two-year-old son,' said Mr Fellows.

'When they entered the shop I immediately recognised them, although no customers appeared to be aware of their presence.

'I served them with several toys for their son David and persuaded my wife to come down with my son to meet them.

'Princes Margaret was extremely pleasant. Indeed, she and her husband remained in the shop, chatting to us, for 45 minutes.

'I subsequently received a letter of thanks on her behalf from her lady-in-waiting, thanking me for serving her with discretion, and stating that she was delighted with her purchases. This is still in my possession.' Princess Margaret had been staying at Horsted Place with Lord and Lady Rupert Nevill at the time that she visited the shop.

Mr Fellows added: 'At least two of Princess Margaret's bridesmaids Lady Rose Nevill and the late Marilyn Wills attended the now defunct Southover Manor School for Girls in Lewes.

'My wife Patricia was catering manager there at the time.'