The Duke of Edinburgh made several visits to the region over the years.

One of the first Royal duties carried out by Prince Philip, was on April 29, 1953 when he officially opened the first phase of major plant developments at Hawarden Bridge Steelworks, now Tata Steel Shotton.

Gordon Smith, who for many years was PR at Shotton Steel, recalls: "The works, owned at the time by John Summers and Sons Limited and renamed Shotton Works following nationalisation of the industry in 1967, had played a major national role during the Second World War, manufacturing over three million tonnes of uncoated and galvanised steel sheets for over 100 wartime uses principally air raid shelters, ammunition boxes, jerry cans and oil drums.

"At the time pig iron and scrap for the steel furnaces were imported into the works and immediately the war ended Summers drew up plans to make the Deeside plant fully integrated and so self- sufficient.

"The Duke’s visit marked the completion of the first phase of developments which included coke ovens, the largest iron-making blast furnace outside America, a new melting shop with eight open hearth steelmaking furnaces and a new power station.

"The complete scheme cost £54 million and the work force increased from 8,000 to 13,000.

"In his speech at a lunch attended by 1,200 guests, the Duke traced the history of the Summers company from the time the founder visited the Crystal Palace Exhibition in 1851 and bought a nail-making machine.

"He ended his speech with the words - 'Technically I suppose it is still spring and it may be raining but I think it is a perfect Summers day'.”