King tells Swiss worker ‘my skiing days are behind me'
The King revealed his skiing days were behind him when he chatted to a Swiss engineer during a visit to a wind turbine factory.
Charles, once a frequent visitor the Swiss Alps at this time of year for family ski trips, was speaking to Avzi Jusufi during a visit to the SeAH Wind plant on Teesside which manufactures 120m long turbine bases.
The King, 76, was shown a calibration roll machine which smooths the bend steel sheets into perfect cylinders as part of the manufacturing process.
Mr Jusufi and the King spoke about his native Switzerland and the mountains, the engineer who is working on installing the equipment said.
Colleague David Croft, from Campbeltown, Scotland, said: 'The King said 'I think my skiing days are behind me'.'
Charles donned a hard hat and fluorescent top over his thick overcoat for the draughty visit to the SeAH plant which is being constructed beside the River Tees.
It will produce up to four of the bases, known as monopiles, a week when it comes into full production.
The plant, the size of 14 football stadiums, is the largest of its kind in the world.
The King met apprentices from Middlesbrough and Hartlepool colleges, as well as 52-year-old Mohammed Saleem Butt, a former shop keeper and taxi driver who has retrained as a welder.
He said: 'The King asked me really nice questions and he put me at ease.
'It was nice to see him.'
Mr Butt, from nearby South Bank, said the employment opportunity was a huge boost to the area.
'If you don't grasp an opportunity with two hands, it's your own fault,' he said.
The King spoke to apprentices Ella Power, 17, from Teesville, and Jemima Dunn, 19, from Redcar.
Ms Dunn said: 'He asked me if many women were getting into the industry.
'I said there were and it was getting more inclusive.'
Paul Martin, production manager at the plant, said: 'The King apologised for stopping production and dragging us away.
'You certainly don't mind on a day like this.
'It was an honour and a privilege to meet the King.
'He was a nice gentleman and witty as well.'
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