VIRGIN tycoon Richard Branson cancelled a date with royalty - so that he could come to Preston to meet members of his new gym.

The multi-millionaire visited his new Virgin Active 'life centre' in Walton-le-Dale yesterday, Thursday, Sept 23.

The entrepreneur decided not to attend the offical opening of the gym, the first of its kind in the country, saying he'd rather 'pop in' unannounced.

He wrote to the club's 4,000-plus members to let them know he would be visiting and would be glad to meet them.

The letter says he had 'cancelled all meetings, held all calls and even postponed a date with royalty to come and see his new life centre'. His two-hour visit, between 2-4pm, attracted many of the centre's members.

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