Inspirational fundraising college student meets royal role model

Meeting HRH Princess Anne at a Save The Children event at The Lyth last month was in fact the second of three royal meetings the 18-year-old is due to have.

It follows an armed forces celebration attended by Prince Andrew when Abi-Lou was just eight years old - and as she is in the final stages of completing the gold Duke of Edinburgh award, she will complete the royal treble when she is handed that accolade by Prince Edward once accomplished, probably next year.

She said: “I knew I was going to be invited to a Save the Children event and when I saw on Facebook that Princess Anne was in Shropshire on the same day, I connected the dots and thought it was mad. It was so magical that I had to put it together to work it out.

“I was nervous but she is so down to earth she just spoke to you like a normal person, you could have a giggle with her and it was so nice.

“When I told her that I wanted to be an officer in the Veterinary Corps she was intrigued and asked me about my A levels, she said go for it - meeting her gave me extra ammunition to keep me going.

“I never thought I would meet one royal, let alone two or perhaps three - it is really nice to realise it is not what you know or who you know, but what you do for people.”

HRH Princess Anne visited the home of Eglantyne Jebb and Dorothy Buxton, co-founders of Save the Children, for which she is Patron on April 24.

Abi-Lou was invited to take part as she was handed a Jebb Scholarship to Ellesmere College which was established in 2019 by the college’s late headmaster, Brendan Wignall, in honour of Eglantyne Jebb, and is offered to students demonstrating selfless support to the community through volunteering and fundraising.

She also told Princess Anne about her work in aid of Alzheimer's research, animal shelters and care before being presented with a copy of 'The Woman who Saved the Children', signed by Eglantyne award-winning biographer, Clare Mulley.

“I did charity work and didn’t think it would get me into the school of my dreams and create a new pathway for my future,” she added.

“I’ve done running, walking, anything and I wouldn’t like to guess how much I’ve raised over the years - thousands.

“I volunteered in a dog kennel from the age of 15, I help at Market Drayton Food Bank and had 18 inches of hair cut off for Princess Trust too.

“I don’t have any money to give so I can give my time and help to raise it, it is so much more important to give time as it is precious to many people.”

And on top of this - the day after meeting her royal hero, Abi-Lou became the only person in the history of Ellesmere College to win three Combined Cadet Force (CCF) trophies not only in one year, but ever.

She won The Wootton Cup for Best Cadet at Summer Camp, The Axe for Best Cadet at Easter Camp and The Blake Hartley Memorial Trophy for Best Cadet for the year.

This achievement comes after only being involved in CCF for 18 months, alongside peers who had been part of the group for five years.

Lieutenant Colonel Martin Clewlow, CCF Contingent Commander and a Chemistry teacher at Ellesmere College, said: “Abi-Lou is an inspiration to many people. She has a fantastic way with people and has made the most of so many opportunities since joining Ellesmere.

“She throws herself into every task and spreads confidence among whatever team she is in.

“She has taken up rifle shooting and has clearly set her sights on the career she wants, I have no doubt she will fulfil her dreams and meeting Princess Anne, her future boss, has been a huge driving force for her.”