This week, we had the incredible honour of welcoming His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to Derwen College.
On Tuesday, 18 March, the campus was buzzing with excitement as students, clients, staff, dignitaries, and supporters gathered to give His Royal Highness a warm welcome and show off our unique ‘Marketplace’ and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Outdoor Centre.
During his visit, His Royal Highness toured our Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Outdoor Centre. Students proudly showed off the skills they’ve learned as part of this amazing programme working towards their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. They demonstrated activities like boarding the canoe simulator, scaling the traversing wall, and cooking around the firepit. His Royal Highness even joined in by having a go on the climbing wall!
After that, The Duke of Edinburgh explored our Marketplace. He met students and staff working in the Garden Centre and Gift Shop and The Vintage Advantage charity shop, and even helped to make a Derwen College hamper.
A huge honour
To celebrate the occasion, we hosted a lunch in The Orangery Restaurant, with special guests including His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anna Turner; Shropshire High Sheriff, Brian Welti; Oswestry Deputy Mayor Councillor Rosie Radford; and Shropshire Council Chairman, Councillor Vince Hunt. We were also joined by community and business members who have supported our students in various expeditions. Students from our Hospitality and Food pathway did an impeccable job serving food and drinks, and were professional at all times, despite the nerves!
The campus was alive with excitement, with everyone waving flags and sharing their experiences with His Royal Highness. This visit was a momentous one, being the first royal visit since 1994, when our patron, The Duchess of Kent, last attended.
‘Real-life training opportunities’
Our Principal and CEO, Meryl Green, summed up the day perfectly: “Having His Royal Highness visit was a huge honour for the whole college. We were thrilled to highlight the work we do to prepare young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) for adult life. We were especially proud to showcase our fully accessible Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Outdoor Centre, which has been developed over the past decade, ensuring that young people with disabilities don’t miss out on the fantastic opportunities the scheme offers. It was also wonderful to show His Royal Highness our unique Marketplace, which is open to the public, and to demonstrate the real-life training opportunities it provides to our students. The visit was a fantastic occasion for everyone involved, highlighting the importance of the work we do every day to support young people with SEND.”
“I can’t wait to tell my family all about today.”
Students were over the moon to meet The Duke of Edinburgh. Student Council president Jonathan and deputy president Lizzie were proud to share the top table with him. Retail student Jonathan showed off his skills in the Garden Centre and Gift Shop by creating a hamper with The Duke, filled with Derwen College-made jams and chutneys. After a quick change, he joined the celebration lunch and later presented the Duke with a Derwen hamper. Jonathan said: “His Royal Highness asked me about my work in Retail and helped to make a hamper with me using a planogram. He put us all at ease. It was a really proud moment for me and for the College.”
Lizzie, who is working towards her Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award, showed The Duke the outdoor centre climbing wall. She said, “I was so nervous but he was lovely. He even had a go on the traversing wall and was really good at it. I can’t wait to tell my family all about today.”
Wonderful celebration
Derwen College Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Coordinator Steve Evans was proud to show The Duke around the College’s outdoor centre. He said: “Today was a proud moment for Derwen College. We’ve been taking part in Duke of Edinburgh Awards for 11 years now, and this is a wonderful celebration of all the hard work and commitment of students and staff over that time.”
The royal visit was a momentous occasion for the Derwen College community, celebrating the achievements of our students and clients, and reinforcing the importance of opportunities for young adults with SEND.