REMARKABLE crowds packed Warrington town centre for the arrival of a Royal couple in 1984.

And it was the presence of Prince Charles and Princess Diana in May of that year that saw the town centre brimming with visitors.

This week in Yester Years, we take a look back to the sunny day.

The couple came to open the Alice in Wonderland statue at Golden Square Shopping Centre which still stands close to the Old Fish Market.

The eight-tonne granite monument represents Daresbury-born Lewis Carroll’s world-renowned Alice in Wonderland books, which was first published in the 1860s.

Edwin Russell, the sculptor, was picked from 200 hopeful artists to complete the figure which cost £25,000.

The visit, at the end of May, coincided with the completion of a £25 million project to develop the site by Legal and General.

The Princess, who was dressed in navy and white, was pregnant with her second child, Prince Harry, during the visit and onlookers came from as far as Yorkshire to be in the crowd.

A special supplement was printed by the Warrington Guardian to mark the occasion.

It read: “One expects royalty to be highly fashionable, but the Princess of Wales surely deserves some praise for her choice of hosiery some weeks ago.

“Despite her hectic lifestyle and her pregnancy, she still caused a stir by turning up wearing sheer tights and butterfly bows at the ankles.

“The tights were originated by Pierre Mantoux in Milan and other devotees of the hose, at just under £10 a pair, are singer Kim Wilde and actress Susannah York.”

Warrington Guardian:

The structure being lowered into place

During the day, children dressed as characters from the Mad Hatter’s tea party as the town celebrated the sculpture which was designed and completed by Edwin Russell.

Ten-year-old Larie Morris, from Padgate, presented a bouquet to the Princess after the sculpture was unveiled.

While helium balloons and Union flags were on sale in the town centre to mark the royal day.

After the opening, the couple met crowds in Market Gate before heading to Manchester Airport to fly home.

  •  Do you remember the visit? Well then let us know at Yester Years.

Send your memories to newsdesk@guardiangrp.co.uk or write to us via Yester Years, Newsdesk, Warrington Guardian, Unit 4, 240 Cygent Court, Centre Park, Warrington, WA1 1 PP.