I was lucky enough to participate in The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme whilst living with my parents in Cyprus in the 1960s. My late father was in the RAF and was also a leader of the Scout group. He encouraged me to adopt the award scheme and a lot of my hikes and camping activities were alongside the Scouts and Venture Scouts. The Scheme helped in raising my confidence and independence levels, as well as supporting my peers and the community in which I lived. Following our return to the UK in 1968 I assisted in setting up and overseeing a Youth group at RAF Wyton and it was from there that I travelled to London to collect my award from Prince Philip at Buckingham Palace. I later joined the WRAF. I am very proud to be a holder of the Gold Award but a little sad that my children did not follow the scheme. However I am hopeful one of my grandchildren will take up the challenge.