I was 13years old when I left home for six weeks to obtain the DofE silver award. The year was 1961 and I was part of a group from the Oxford Educational Authority. There was a scheme for various schools to send boys to Patterdale Hall on Ullswater in the Lake District to achieve the award. Most of us had put our names forward out of bravado hoping we would not be chosen to represent the school! We had not left home before other than cub or scout camp. My friend and I were chosen. Our school , Northfield now called Peers at Littlemore had sent boys for several years since the scheme started. My friend and I were both keen canoeists ,we were always outdoors and very fit . It was good preparation for what was to come.
We arrived by train, in itself an expedition and were eventually transferred to Patterdale Hall. Our experienced teachers and course leaders met us . Over the following weeks were taught map reading and other outdoor skills as well as our regular schooling. There was a big emphasis on exercise, games and obtaining the standards laid down for the award scheme. We were required to throw a cricket ball over 180 ft for instance and jump 18 inches above our own height . Our public service was to obtain the St John’s first aid certificate. One evening we went out in a storm on the lake to try and land on an island with Oxford mail reporters. We were rowing an eight oared ex ship lifeboat. We had to abandon the boat on the far shore of Ullswater and walk back in the dark with the oars and rudder. The reporters were angry with the leader, we carried on as normal, we were quite tough by then.
The six weeks culminated in a three day 25 mile expedition, one night under canvas and one in a hostel. We had lots of rain and poor equipment, old army boots and flimsy cotton anoraks. A bobble hat knitted by my mum completed the outfit. On the last day one of our team was unable to walk due to bad blisters, we half carried him to the end.