Pride as royal visitor The Duke of Gloucester drops in at Shropshire armed forces hub

A royal visitor dropped in to see a Telford Armed Forces Community hub first hand.

His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester visited the Christopher Turley Armed Forces Community Hub in Dawley on Tuesday (May 5).

The Duke was accompanied by the Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anna Turner JP, and was greeted on arrival by Deputy Lord-Lieutenant Peter Holt.

During the visit, The Duke met with a wide range of people connected to the hub, including veterans, volunteers, council officers and representatives from the hub’s partner organisations Telford Mind and Great Dawley Town Council.

The Duke also met with representatives from Models for Heroes, an art group, the Telford & Wrekin Armed Forces Outreach Team, and the council’s staff armed forces group, as well as veterans and volunteers.

He spent time speaking directly to attendees to learn more about their experiences and hear first-hand about support available from the hub and the positive impact it has on their lives.

Following refreshments and informal discussions, The Duke unveiled a commemorative plaque and took part in a group photograph with veterans and partners.

The hub is named in honour of Christopher Turley, a proud veteran and former councillor, in recognition of his lifelong commitment to supporting the armed forces community.

The visit follows recent news that the hub has been awarded £670,709 of Government funding from the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, as part of the national Valour programme.

The investment will enhance and expand the services delivered through the hub and establish it as the first Valour-accredited veterans centre in the West Midlands, recognising it as a centre of excellence for coordinated veterans support.

Councillor Paul Davis, Telford & Wrekin Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for the armed forces, said: “We were deeply honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester to the Christopher Turley Armed Forces Community Hub.

“This visit is a real recognition of the importance of our armed forces community and the value of the support delivered here every day.

“The hub stands as a lasting tribute to Christopher Turley’s legacy of service and dedication, and today’s visit from The Duke highlights the strength of partnership working that ensures our veterans, serving personnel and their families feel supported, respected and valued.

“This visit comes at a landmark time for the hub, following the award of significant government funding that will see it become the first Valour-accredited veterans centre in the West Midlands and one of only 14 nationally.

“That recognition reflects the dedication of everyone involved and reinforces our determination to ensure veterans, serving personnel and their families feel valued, supported and never left to navigate challenges alone.”

Louise Heap, CEO of Telford Mind, said: “We were delighted to welcome The Duke of Gloucester to the Christopher Turley Armed Forces Community Hub in Dawley, where we had the opportunity to showcase the wide range of support available to the armed forces community through our partnership work with Telford & Wrekin Council and Great Dawley Town Council.

"From hosting regular cafés, seasonal events and community activities, to providing drop-in sessions where members of the armed forces community can access advice, guidance and support, the hub continues to play an important role in bringing people together and ensuring help is available when it is needed most."

Councillor Ben Carter, mayor of Great Dawley, added: “It was a great honour to welcome The Duke of Gloucester to Great Dawley to showcase all of the incredible work and achievements that the Christopher Turley Armed Forces Community Hub has done for the local armed forces community."

Sergeant Major Andy Turley, son of Christopher Turley after whom the hub is named, said: “It was a great honour to meet His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester and show him around the hub. My father would have been incredibly proud to see this moment, and to witness the lasting legacy of support created in his name for veterans and armed forces personnel across the area.”

The Christopher Turley Armed Forces Community Hub provides a dedicated, welcoming space for serving personnel, veterans and their families. Operating as a one-stop hub, it offers specialist support, advice, and signposting to services, alongside opportunities for social connection and peer support.