The death of Princess Margaret on Saturday struck a sorrowful chord with the many people who turned out to welcome her during her visits to Borehamwood and Elstree.

The Queen's sister travelled to the area on many occasions, and on her last visit, in 1992, opened new buildings at Haberdashers' Aske's boys and girls schools in Elstree.

Her first trip to Borehamwood was in 1951 when she and her mother toured the Associated British Picture Corporation Studios, when the film The Magic Box was being made.

In October 1954, at the age of 24, she laid the foundation stone for St Michael and All Angels Church, in Brook Road, which was being built to serve the new council estate.

Local historian Mary Hanson, who was in the crowd which had gathered to see her, said: "It was a great big event she wore a red coat and really stood out."

Hundreds of scouts, guides and brownies formed a guard of honour, stretching the length of Brook Road, to welcome the princess.

Florence Cowley, who was leader of the 3rd Boreham Wood Guides at the time, said: "There was a great deal of excitement and we marched down Brook Road feeling very important it was a lot of fun."

The princess attended a service at the church site, and then visited one of the new council houses, where a shy four-year-old boy reluctantly handed her a bouquet of flowers.

In May 1969 Princess Margaret landed by helicopter at Haberdashers' Aske's School for Boys, in Butterfly Lane, to meet pupils, governors and staff.

By that time she was an honorary freeman and a member of the court at the Haberdashers' Company, the charity which founded the boys and girls schools in Elstree.

She watched a play and a gymnastics demonstration, and later commented on how complicated one 17-year-old pupil's project looked in the science laboratory.

The Borehamwood Post reported at the time: "After he explained that it was a simple optical pattern, the princess departed with a smile."

Her third visit to Haberdashers' Aske's School for Boys was in 1983, when she officially opened the new preparatory school department, after inspecting the school's cadet force.

During her three-hour tour, the princess watched country dancing and a play on the lawn, and commented on the "beautiful playing" of the school's musicians.

She went to Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls in 1989, to open a new sports hall, and planted a tree at the bosys school to celebrate the company's 300th birthday,

Three years later, in October 1992, she visited both schools again, to open new buildings, and listened to a joint music concert.

Simon Boyes, the boys school's acting headmaster, said: "There was a lovely atmosphere and I think all the boys and staff who met here were charmed."

The girls school's deputy headteacher, Anthea Hale, added: "We are very proud of our association with Princess Margaret every year at Founder's Day we say a prayer and her name is included as a 'citizen and Haberdasher'."

The chairman of the NSPCC's Elstree, Borehamwood and Radlett committee, Dr Ann Goddard, twice met the princess, who had been the charity's president since 1953.

She was introduced to committee members at the opening of the NSPCC's Tottenham Family Centre in 1996, and also at a reception for the charity at Kensington Palace two years ago.

Dr Goddard said: "The princess was a very successful president when I met her she was really warm and interested in doing her best to be charming to everyone."

Penelope Penney, the headteacher of Haberdashers' Aske's School for Girls, said a prayer for the princess, who died at the age of 71, at the school's assembly on Monday.

February 13, 2002 15:25