Leamington planner meets the Queen and Prince Charles

Clive Harridge, who works at Amec Foster Wheeler in Kenilworth Road, was one of around 100 representatives of Commonwealth civil society organisations to attend the event on October 27.

Mr Harridge attended as honorary secretary-general of the Commonwealth Association of Planners.

The event was held in advance of the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, to be held in Malta later this month, which Mr Harridge will also attend.

Speaking after the reception, he said: “It was a bit of a surprise to be invited as I am not sure that the Queen has held a reception in this way before. She invited about 100 representatives and she and Prince Charles spoke to all of them individually.

“It was a great honour for me to meet the Queen. She is an inspiration for the whole of the Commonwealth.

“As head of the Commonwealth, the Queen will lead the forthcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which provides a great opportunity for Commonwealth governments to agree how they can take forward the sustainable development goals recently approved by the UN.”

Mr Harridge, who was a Leamington town planner between 1980 and 1988, has also been president of the Royal Town Planning Institute and has worked for Rugby Borough Council. His current role at Amec Foster Wheeler is head of planning, transport and design.