Paul Michael Harrisson

I was proud to attain my Silver D of E Award in 1962-63.

I remember that the project I pursued was ornithology and at the time I was raising a young kestrel which had fallen from its nest and when it finally left me a year later it returned a couple of times which seemed to signal that it was well and able to survive but still remembered me.

I performed my Expedition by kayak up the River Thames from Weybridge camping out with two friends and passing beneath Windsor Castle's Walls on our way - it seemed a great adventure in those far off days and I was proud to achieve the Award

It inspired me to take the first step in my adult life when I left school in 1963 and travelled to Thailand where I taught English and French for a year in the Sixth Form of Benjama Maharaj School in Ubol Rajatani. Thailand was a very remote country in those days and this experience in turn inspired me in later years after I qualified as a Solicitor to travel to China and Japan for my firm, Clyde and Co for whom I was able to help establish an office in Hong Kong in 1973.

Duke's Award was very definitely a major step forward in my life and gave me increased self confidence to step forth into the world.

I should also mention that for fifteen years I served as Foredeck Hand on an International Dragon based in Cowes and competing in international regattas in Europe and winning the Edinburgh Cup in the National Championships on the Clyde in 1973 and drawing further inspiration from encounters with His Royal Highness Prince Phillip in Cowes on more than one occasion.

He has been an inspiration to me and to Great Britain and the World throughout his exemplary life

RIP HRH
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