Although I never had the opportunity of being the DofE as a participant I have been a leader and expedition assessor for more than 40 years. Helping young people achieve their awards has been one of the most satisfying parts of my adult life. The picture shows a group of cadets from 1297 Stonehaven Squadron Air Training Corps when I met them as their assessor in the Lairig Ghru in the Cairngorms on their Gold expedition in July 1996. Two of the group were my own two sons Euan and Keith who went on to receive their Gold awards from HRH Prince Philip at Holyrood Palace. Both boys found that their participation in the award was held in very high esteem when they were being interviewed for their eventual professions.