I completed my bronze award at school, however, I was a member of the Girls' Brigade in Maldon, Essex, and I worked to achieve the Gold Award by myself. At that time (1975) it wasn’t so easy to join with other participants, there were not so many groups working to the award at that time, my home town was quite rural and folk didn’t have cars so much as nowadays, so it wasn’t possible to meet up and do things together.

At that time, if you were unable to do the Expedition you could do a worthwhile project instead, this was at an aftercare residential establishment for those with mental illness. My residential was a children's camp for underprivileged children under canvas, Service was advanced Sunday school teaching. I went on to work in schools all my working life, some with disabled children and others not. The DOFE award helped me to persevere with what I set out to do.

My photo was taken on the steps of Buckingham Palace after meeting the Duke of Edinburgh and getting my certificate. Also in the photo, my mum and the officer from our Girls' Brigade Company.