I joined Surrey Constabulary Police Cadets at 16 in 1961 which led me to participate in the D of E scheme. Cadets went straight into the silver badge section. I completed this by reaching various levels in sport, following philately as a pursuit, and completing local expeditions covering over 30 miles in the Guildford/Dorking areas much in inclement weather including a heavy thunder storm. I then went on to complete the required levels for the gold standard adding first aid and life saving skills to my achievements. My service to others was as a member of the Royal Observer Corps at Headley Heath, nr. Leatherhead, Surrey, with post Q4. The gold expedition was a 50 mile hike in Snowdonia National Park. I completed all levels by 30.4.1963 which was then signed off by the Chief Constable Herman Rutherford. I received my gold award from the Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, 13th June, 1963.
As a result some years later when I was a regular police officer I was asked if I would be interested in becoming an instructor in the scheme which I accepted. This then led to me spending a month in January 1968 as a temporary assistant instructor at Eskdale Outward Bound Mountain School, Cumbria, taking a Mountain Leaders Course based in Snowdonia and supervising groups of Surrey Police Cadets participating in the D of E scheme as I had done previously.