Fiona Shaw
Last night whilst watching the news about the passing of Prince Philip, I shed a tear and felt very pensive and thoughtful about my own life and personal relationship and memories of The Duke of Edinburgh.
In my homeland Australia in 1980, I was presented my Gold DofE Award from The Duke of Edinburgh in Sydney. I have kept the photograph of me shaking his hand, receiving my Award and of my late, proud Mother in her new pink hat that she bought for the bug event! I was 18 years old with my life all ahead of me, boosted by the confidence I had built up over the years of doing my 3 DofE Awards at school.
I have travelled from Australia, and now live in Manchester. I have raised 4 children, been divorced and lived a challenging life, not easy at times. I work in a local comprehensive school, and 11 years ago, launched the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in 'my' school.
I wanted to give something back, and maybe relive some of my own youth along the way! Our school has enabled over 300 youngsters to gain their Bronze DofE Award and I never fail to get emotional when I see the smiles and cheers for these students overcoming personal challenges and growing into confident young people. The caption, DofE makes a Difference, is so true.
My staff team and I are all Volunteers - giving up many hours, weekends and evenings to train, prepare and supervise hiking Expeditions for the students. But it is always so worthwhile when the students gain a new skill or experience with a smile and laugh, or grimace and groan!
I will never forget the day I shook The Duke of Edinburgh's hand all those years ago, personally receiving my Gold Award. Now, I am very glad to be giving the same chance to local young people of different backgrounds, to do their DofE, and help them make the same journey, with their own lifelong memories.
Also, I burst with pride every annual Awards Evening, to show my students that I really was their age once!!
THANK YOU PRINCE PHILIP - REST IN
In my homeland Australia in 1980, I was presented my Gold DofE Award from The Duke of Edinburgh in Sydney. I have kept the photograph of me shaking his hand, receiving my Award and of my late, proud Mother in her new pink hat that she bought for the bug event! I was 18 years old with my life all ahead of me, boosted by the confidence I had built up over the years of doing my 3 DofE Awards at school.
I have travelled from Australia, and now live in Manchester. I have raised 4 children, been divorced and lived a challenging life, not easy at times. I work in a local comprehensive school, and 11 years ago, launched the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in 'my' school.
I wanted to give something back, and maybe relive some of my own youth along the way! Our school has enabled over 300 youngsters to gain their Bronze DofE Award and I never fail to get emotional when I see the smiles and cheers for these students overcoming personal challenges and growing into confident young people. The caption, DofE makes a Difference, is so true.
My staff team and I are all Volunteers - giving up many hours, weekends and evenings to train, prepare and supervise hiking Expeditions for the students. But it is always so worthwhile when the students gain a new skill or experience with a smile and laugh, or grimace and groan!
I will never forget the day I shook The Duke of Edinburgh's hand all those years ago, personally receiving my Gold Award. Now, I am very glad to be giving the same chance to local young people of different backgrounds, to do their DofE, and help them make the same journey, with their own lifelong memories.
Also, I burst with pride every annual Awards Evening, to show my students that I really was their age once!!
THANK YOU PRINCE PHILIP - REST IN
