I received my Gold Award from the Duke of Edinburgh in 1974. Looking back I can see how important it was to my life - how the scheme gave me confidence and built my resilience, to think and care for others and to be strong and capable. I am now a priest, having come late into this ministry, and yet I do not think I would be here now, had those building blocks not been set in my early, formative years. I owe a lot to the Duke of Edinburgh. I met him again in 2007 at Windsor Castle where I was attending a reception and I wore my Gold Award. From across the room I saw the Duke's eye alight on my broach and he headed over to me to say how pleased he was that I was wearing it that night! I have a wonderful photo, taken by the court photographer, of this conversation which I will treasure forever.
My service tomorrow will be for the Duke.