I was privileged to be in the Buckingham Palace gardens for the Duke's last Gold Award presentation day. I gather that he planned to attend one more presentation at Holyrood Palace, but this was his last in London. It was a very hot day and we were at liberty to explore the gardens before the presentation.

More poignantly, my Gold and Silver expedition groups were actually on their practice expeditions on the very day of the Duke's funeral. Most if not all groups paused to observe the minute's silence as they journeyed through the Clwyddian Hills in North Wales.

Graham Hill. DofE Manager, Birkenhead School.