Anne, Princess Royal set to visit Trawden village in April

Anne, the Princess Royal, is set to visit Trawden on April 10.

During the trip, she will visit the Trawden Arms Community Pub and the Trawden Forest community centre, shop and library .

Far from your ‘average’ community spaces, the village became the first in Britain to buy its library, post office, shop, community centre and pub to save them from closure, in a bid to stop it becoming a 'ghost town'.

Inside the Trawden Forest community shop (Image: NQ)

Steven Wilcock, who was chair trustee of the project for nine years and oversaw project from beginning, said Princess Anne’s visit is a great thing for the community.

He said: “I think it’s fantastic and a great tribute to our village, particularly for all the community work we are doing.

“We consider it a great honour that we are getting a royal visit and it’s the icing on top of the cake for us to be recognised in this way.”

Steven Wilcock,was chair trustee of the Trawden community project (Image: Steven Wilcock)Steven and his wife Jane, who often volunteers in the village shop, said they are excited but nervous.

Steven said: “I am nervous and it’s my wife and me who are hosting this and will be taking her around the shop, pub and community centre… it is quite daunting but I am looking forward to it.”

According to Steven, plans for the royal visit were set into motion last year when he received his British Empire Medal.

He said: “I was given a British Empire Medal last year and was asked about what I have done in Trawden.

"After explaining I was told that ‘a visit was needed to Trawden'.

The Princess Royal is set to visit Trawden (Image: PA)

“Next thing we known Princess Anne was confirmed to visit.”

The community project started in 2014, when the community centre was acquired by locals after the borough council was about to close it down due to cuts.

In 2018 the villagers saved its local library and local shop.

In 2021 The Trawden Arms, which was the village’s last remaining pub, was put up for sale.

It was later saved after the community, and people across the world, rallied together to raise more than £450,000 to save it from closure.

Steven said: “We took over the community centre and it’s been a huge success.

"Over the next three years we refurbished it and it is used by the community, more so now than it was before.

"Indoor bowling, lunches for the elderly, yoga classes, watercolour classes and beyond.

“The shop has from strength to strength and the pub has been a roaring success.

“This project has definitely brought the community together. The more facilities a village or town lose the more it becomes a ‘dormitory village’ [but thanks to work from the community] the opposite has happened here.

“The projects, apart from the pub, are run by volunteers which has has created friendships. We are a thriving community again.”