I participated in the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme through the 11th Whitehaven (YWCA) Guides commencing October 1963, aged 14. Gaining all three awards I finished in September 1967 and was the first girl in Whitehaven and the second in Cumberland to gain the Gold Award. When my Guider moved away it would have been easy to give up but having completed earlier awards, which made me feel that you could achieve anything if you tried, I feel proud that I continued the challenge alone to finish my Gold.
A memory that springs to mind from the outdoor residential course at Colomendy School, Wales was a three peak day challenge, a very tiring one if memory serves me right.
On the 14 February 1968 I had the privilege of attending Buckingham Palace with my mother where I had the honour of meeting Prince Philip who presented my Award in the State ballroom. It remains one of the highlights of my life and many friendships formed from my Guiding and DofE days continue to this day.
I met Prince Philip again at a Gold Award holders day in Lairthwaite School, Keswick (late 70s) when he arrived by helicopter and came and chatted to everyone as he wandered around.
As a Ranger Guide leader it was a proud day when seven of my girls received their Bronze Awards and an even prouder day when another Ranger, Angela Denwood went on to receive her Gold.
I have now been married for 45 years and have three sons; our eldest gained his Bronze Award in 1995 and now holds both Mountain Leadership & Winter Mountain Leadership certificates. He has been supervising Gold Expedition students from Edinburgh University for over 15 years.
The skills I learnt in those early years helped to make me who I am today, gaining confidence and leadership skills amongst others and to pass on my love of the outdoors to our family.
I would recommend the Scheme to any young person. Long may the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme continue to be his legacy.