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HRH The Countess of Wessex delighted dignitary’s, visitors and volunteers at Aspire Ryde when she came to visit on Thursday 20th September 2018. After being formally welcomed to the building by the founder and now C.E.O. Heath Monaghan & Julie Monaghan co-founder and people co-ordinator, The Countess greeted a crowd of guests in the main hall and met several of the trustees and the new patrons of Aspire Ryde before undertaking a tour of the innovative project that has been developing a stronger community presence over the last 5 years. Stopping to watch the creative display of dancing and being very impressed at the display of ariel hoop exercises that take place at the centre every week.She chatted to participants in the centres men-in-sheds wood workshop and cycle workshop. The Islands High Sherriff Gioia Minghella-Giddens then introduced representatives from several of the organisations that had funded Aspire Ryde. And HRH chatted with a group of children from Oakfield school and Ryde academy. There was much interest in Aspires free food and community fridge project and time for Ryde Tesco community champion Jan Gibson to explain how food is redirected from being food waste into reused by turning it into meals at the centre and available 24/7 on a food stand to help to combat food poverty in the town.HRH admired the work that had been undertaken in the Aspire gardens and met some of the gardening projects participants, taking a particular interest in the range of unusual herbs that are grown onsite for the whole community to share. Commenting about the pleasing aroma, when greeting Aspires kitchen team the Countess was very interested & became hands on to find out what delights were being created for lunch at the centre.Extra time was taken to explore the unique underground creative hub that houses the very popular and well-equipped band rehearsal room, recording studio & visual hub. Before returning to the front gardens to be entertained by Aspires community choir and to unveil a plaque to commemorate the visit.Just before departure a hamper of herbs grown onsite & heart made in the wood workshop was handed to the countess by Talitha Monaghan (aged 12) and Esmee Monaghan (aged 9) Heath Monaghan said “We are thrilled that she has taken the time to visit us as this really recognises the hard work and dedication taken by the whole community to transform this much loved redundant church building into a thriving community hub. We were delighted last year when awarded the queens award for voluntary service that is the equivalent of an MBE for the team. However to also get a royal visit really does show the royal family’s interest in the Island and she said such nice things about what we had achieved. It was an absolute pleasure to escort HRH around our project and she was very complimentary about everything going on. She really was genuinely interested in understanding more about the difference that we make”.

Full gallery of photos here – goo.gl/qhLmvZ

Photos published here:
https://iwradio.co.uk/2018/09/24/in-pictures-hrh-sophie-countess-of-wessex-visits-aspire-ryde/