A HIGH-tech company based at Malvern Hills Science Park had a special visitor this week.

Managers and employees at Collins Aerospace gathered to welcome Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, who was greeted by managing director Jim Pawson.

Mr Pawson and other team members demonstrated their latest intelligence networking systems, provided a brief history of the UK RAF Raptor reconnaissance system and gave the Princess Royal a tour of their purpose-built facility.

She also met many of the employees and unveiled a special plaque to commemorate her visit.

Mr Pawson said: "We were honoured and very excited by her visit. When we moved into our newly constructed facility in 2016, we sent an invitation to the Princess Royal’s Household requesting she visits to celebrate the success and growth of the company within the Malvern Hills Science Park.

"Late last year we received a call stating the Princess Royal had accepted and we were naturally delighted.”

Pawson said the Princess Royal seemed impressed by what she saw. “She recognized that we do very important work that often goes unnoticed. She also thanked the team for their continued commitment and innovation,” he said.

The 80-member Malvern team is part of the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and space solutions business within Collins Aerospace.

The Malvern business designs, builds and supports systems and software for multi-source data acquisition, management and exploitation.

The Malvern office was created in 2003 and has been a resident of the Malvern Hills Science Park throughout its 15 years.