Queen opens award-winning building of Thames Valley University

London, Mar 4 (PTI) A house of innovative teaching
facilities and modern halls of residence, the award winning
Paragon House building on the Thames University campus was
formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II here.

A variety of performances by students from the
university's faculties greeted the Queen and her husband
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, as they came for the
inauguration ceremony, a University spokesman said.

The Royal visit ended with the Queen unveiling a special
plaque to mark the official opening of the building, followed
by a short speech by Chancellor Lord Karan Bilimoria, a
leading Non-Resident Indians(NRI) entrepreneur.

Lord Bilimoria said: "Hopefully when you pass by on the
fly-over, on your way from Windsor to London, you will see
this building and think of Thames Valley University."

Students from the School of Hospitality and Tourism
showed off skills used in the larder kitchen, pastry kitchen
and front of house, including fruit carving, preparing
canapes, sugar spinning and laying tables.

The Royals also spent time with representatives of the
university's new FutureSkills initiative, finding out more
about their work in the community, helping employers to
develop workforce skills.

The Paragon House offers innovative teaching facilities
and modern halls of residence and is the winner in the Major
Housing Project of the year category in 2007. PTI HSR
RAI