Prince Charles visit to Redbridge

Prince Charles has visited the London Borough of Redbridge on one occasion. Prince Charles visited the former Plessey Factory in Ley Street, Ilford, in October 1978.

He was there as part of a programme designed to acquaint him with developments in British Industry. Prince Charles met a range of employees at a buffet lunch where he dined on scampi, smoked salmon, chicken and caviar. He spoke with a toolmaker, a defence liaison officer and a trade union representative.

The visit and tour were kept largely private because it had been intended as a working visit – sandwiched between similar visits to Cossor Electronics in Harlow and Marconi Radar Systems Ltd in Chelmsford.