Queen visits Rotherham research centre

Her Majesty was visiting the Advanced Manufacturing Park at Catcliffe to perform the sod-cutting for the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre.

She used hi-tech virtual reality technology to control a JCB outside the centre and break ground for the new facility, which will help UK companies become global leaders in producing components for a new generation of nuclear power stations.

More than 60 companies have become members of the AMRC, which employs 140 highly skilled staff in Rotherham.

Prof Mike Hounslow, University of Sheffield pro-vice chancellor for engineering, said: “This region has a centuries-old reputation for manufacturing excellence.

“We are honoured to be able to demonstrate to Her Majesty that this reputation lives on at the cutting-edge of research.”