I started the D of E Award Scheme at Newport Free Grammar School [Essex] in 1971, with three 6th form students. Soon the group grew, via a larger Silver Level group, [one of whom went on to be a marine veteran of the Falklands war] and thence to Bronze level as other colleagues joined as leaders and section assessors. By the time I retired in 2007 the late summer term training weekends catered for 100 students with a team of 20plus qualified helpers. My aim was always to have an open group, with no selection by finance, ability or ballot. Starting with second hand equipment, we raised money from sponsored events and parental gifts so that we could provide each student with boots, waterproofs, rucksack, sleeping bag, tent and stove. Other parts of the Award were catered for by a wide range of volunteers, and I have been privileged to work with a range of inspirational colleagues in the delivery of the various sections of the Award – fellow school staff, Police, Fire Service, Army Youth teams and R.E.M.E. from the local barracks [who delivered high quality car mechanics courses], not to mention the parents and ex-students who year after year gave up spare time to assist at the Derbyshire camp or as Gold expedition supervisors. Many staff and ex-students continued their involvement as Award Leaders as they moved on. Many participants found their career path through the Award, in nursing [noteworthy in the early days when few men went into that profession], police, paramedics and the armed forces. The Gold expedition gave preferential admission to earth science course involving remote individual fieldwork. It is a pleasure to see how the less academically gifted glow with pride and confidence at what they learnt and achieved through the Award. As the scheme grew so my own horizons widened and knowledge deepened through contact with such a range of people, and teacher/student barriers came down through the two-way sharing of skills and experiences.