I participated in DofE Gold during sixth form. I completed all elements except the final expedition in which I was expected to be expedition leader. Unfortunately the expedition took place when I went to Australia, but in a sense that was an expedition in itself. I chose Police Service and stamped postcodes on bikes to enable their recovery if lost or stolen. After University and Bar School I ended up working for a Legal Charity then joining the Police. I have worked in Criminal Justice ever since, HMCTS for the past nineteen years. Despite not finishing my award, I was still fortunate enough to meet HRH Prince Philip in the grounds of Windsor, having been to Church there during a Bar Cumberland Lodge weekend. I also share his passion for horses and saw him carriage driving at Windsor. My Son is now involved with DofE at School. Covid has got in the way in the last year but I hope he manages to complete his.
The image is either the Black Mountains or Brecon Beacons where we did our expedition training. I am on the right in Royal Blue.