David Hatchard
I still have my Record Book from 1958 and would be happy send you a copy if you would like one.
Whilst some of the requirements to get the Award were difficult, there was one incident worth recording. This was when we were in the Black Mountains/Brecon Beacons and one of the boys (who was well over 6 foot and big built) had cramp at about 04:00 and brought the tent down. This resulted is us starting to walk in the wrong direction for about 2 hours and we just met our check point time after we realised our error and retraced our steps.
The attached photo was published in the Daily Sketch (causing quite a stir in our home town of Pontypool, Gwent) on the day after us going to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, 16 May 1961. My Best Man, Alan Jones, is on the right (i.e. my left shoulder). The Duke of Edinburgh stood in front of us and smiled but, much to our disappointment, only spoke to the boys on the side of us.
I was just under sixteen when I started the Award Scheme and I am very pleased to say that this, together with me being an Officer in the Boys Brigade, definitely helped when I left school and began interviews for a job.
Even after all this time, I remain convinced that the Gold Award improved the way I looked at life and I know I encouraged family members, friends and work colleagues to try it.
Although I have never broadcasted it, I have been surprised on quite a few occasions over the years when people did not believe me when I said "when I was at Buckingham Palace and Price Phillip was stood in front of me".
Before closing, I feel that I must record the fact that, after a long illness, my Mum passed away on the day after I came home from the Palace. Whilst this nearly destroyed me, I took a lot of comfort from the fact that my Dad and many family members and friends were adamant that the only thing that kept her alive for so long was to see me after I had been to the Palace.
Whilst some of the requirements to get the Award were difficult, there was one incident worth recording. This was when we were in the Black Mountains/Brecon Beacons and one of the boys (who was well over 6 foot and big built) had cramp at about 04:00 and brought the tent down. This resulted is us starting to walk in the wrong direction for about 2 hours and we just met our check point time after we realised our error and retraced our steps.
The attached photo was published in the Daily Sketch (causing quite a stir in our home town of Pontypool, Gwent) on the day after us going to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, 16 May 1961. My Best Man, Alan Jones, is on the right (i.e. my left shoulder). The Duke of Edinburgh stood in front of us and smiled but, much to our disappointment, only spoke to the boys on the side of us.
I was just under sixteen when I started the Award Scheme and I am very pleased to say that this, together with me being an Officer in the Boys Brigade, definitely helped when I left school and began interviews for a job.
Even after all this time, I remain convinced that the Gold Award improved the way I looked at life and I know I encouraged family members, friends and work colleagues to try it.
Although I have never broadcasted it, I have been surprised on quite a few occasions over the years when people did not believe me when I said "when I was at Buckingham Palace and Price Phillip was stood in front of me".
Before closing, I feel that I must record the fact that, after a long illness, my Mum passed away on the day after I came home from the Palace. Whilst this nearly destroyed me, I took a lot of comfort from the fact that my Dad and many family members and friends were adamant that the only thing that kept her alive for so long was to see me after I had been to the Palace.
