Joanne Meadows
I remember hiding a small radio on our silver expedition in 1975 so we could hear Arthur Ashe win Wimbledon whilst sitting sat the top of a hill in the Peak District.
Our Gold expedition was in North Yorkshire in the hot summer of 1976 - walking over the white limestone pavements - which gave me sunstroke on the final day.
My Gold DofE activity helped me to win a scholarship to Atlantic College something which had a huge impact on my life. In February 1978 we had a great blizzard in the days leading up to my gold award presentation at Buckingham Palace. Atlantic College was cut off. A large group from my previous secondary school were due to go together to the presentation - I think the first Gold Award holders from school. Eventually I set off very early in the morning with my expedition rucksack to walk through the snowdrifts to the next village and get a bus to Cardiff and a train to London to meet my parents. A fabulous day meeting Prince Philip at the Palace!
Today I am a school bursar in a secondary school and love helping to run the award - especially running expeditions. This year we have our second ever set of gold expeditions, we will take 66 students to Wales. I hope the students make memories which are half as good as mine when they are 60!
I have my original canvas covered record book in my desk drawer which reminds me of the activities I took part in. In those days girls had different criteria, at gold we were finally allowed to do physical activity as one of our sections!
What a fantastic award scheme accessible to so many children from all walks of life - thank you Prince Philip. I was so lucky to have teachers who enabled me to get involved. Mike Clague was both a science teacher and scout leader, his contribution was fabulous.
Our Gold expedition was in North Yorkshire in the hot summer of 1976 - walking over the white limestone pavements - which gave me sunstroke on the final day.
My Gold DofE activity helped me to win a scholarship to Atlantic College something which had a huge impact on my life. In February 1978 we had a great blizzard in the days leading up to my gold award presentation at Buckingham Palace. Atlantic College was cut off. A large group from my previous secondary school were due to go together to the presentation - I think the first Gold Award holders from school. Eventually I set off very early in the morning with my expedition rucksack to walk through the snowdrifts to the next village and get a bus to Cardiff and a train to London to meet my parents. A fabulous day meeting Prince Philip at the Palace!
Today I am a school bursar in a secondary school and love helping to run the award - especially running expeditions. This year we have our second ever set of gold expeditions, we will take 66 students to Wales. I hope the students make memories which are half as good as mine when they are 60!
I have my original canvas covered record book in my desk drawer which reminds me of the activities I took part in. In those days girls had different criteria, at gold we were finally allowed to do physical activity as one of our sections!
What a fantastic award scheme accessible to so many children from all walks of life - thank you Prince Philip. I was so lucky to have teachers who enabled me to get involved. Mike Clague was both a science teacher and scout leader, his contribution was fabulous.
