Gobowen campus buzzed with excitement as His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh visited Derwen College on Tuesday 18 March 2025.
During his visit, His Royal Highness toured our Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards Outdoor Centre, and visited Derwen Marketplace.
Students proudly showed off the skills they’ve learned as part of their DofE Awards programme.
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!
The Duke of Edinburgh also explored our Marketplace. He met students and staff working in The Vintage Advantage charity shop; and the Garden Centre and Gift Shop – even helping 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 DofE 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.
The visit was a momentous one, being the first royal visit since 1994, when our patron, The Duchess of Kent, last attended.
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. 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. It celebrated the achievements of our students and clients, and reinforced the importance of opportunities for young adults with SEND.
