HRH The Princess Royal visits Shropshire

In Shrewsbury, The Princess Royal spent time with residents at Bradbury Bungalow, Eskdale Road, Shrewsbury, which was built in 2011 by Shropshire Council and the Development Trust, to support adults with learning disabilities to live independently in their community.

Steve Charmley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for disability, said:

“We were honoured that HRH The Princess Royal took time during her visit to Shropshire to officially open Bradbury Bungalow. Her continued support means a lot to all of us.

“She talked to the three residents and was extremely interested to know more about how the accommodation enables them to live independently as tenants in their own home.

“Adults with learning disabilities tell us they highly value this type of accommodation, and we are committed to identifying more potential sites to use for such developments.

“We look forward to continuing to work with the Development Trust, which in recent years has invested considerably in Shropshire to help provide a range of quality services for adults and children with a learning disability.”

Princess Royal returns to Harper Adams
At Harper Adams the new student residence received the Royal seal of approval, the £1.6 million hall, which was named after the Princess, with the consent of the HM The Queen, is now home to 55 students, some of whom met Her Royal Highness this afternoon.

The Princess visited the study bedroom of first-year student Harriet Sutcliffe and chatted to the remaining residents of Harriet’s flat. She also received gifts from student warden Robert Boffey, and Madelaine Wilson, a first-year resident of the new hall.

Robert, 21, a final year Food and Consumer Studies student, said: “It made me incredibly proud to be asked to present a gift to Her Royal Highness. And it was a great privilege to welcome the Princess to the new hall. We are pleased that the building has been named after someone we all know of and admire. It has already become affectionately known as the ‘PR Hall’!”

Chairman of the Harper Adams University College Board of Governors, Roger Mercer, addressed the Princess and invited guests in a marquee erected alongside The Princess Royal Hall for the occasion.

He said: “It gives me great pleasure to formally welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal to Harper Adams this afternoon. As many of you may know, Her Royal Highness has undertaken the role of Honorary Fellow here at the University College for a number of years and we are extremely grateful that you have found the time to visit us once again to open our new hall of residence.

“Nothing is more important than ensuring that our students have the best possible facilities in which to live and study during their time with us… It is only through investing in excellent facilities on our campus that we can continue to provide the high quality graduates that our industries are actively seeking.”

Speaking briefly after officially opening The Princess Royal Hall, Her Royal Highness praised the expansion of the campus, saying: “I expect a lot of people think that colleges like this don’t change very much. They should come here more often because it changes all the time. You’ve got to keep up!”