The DofE award scheme was a large part of my adolescence, and linked me up with people who shaped me in many ways. It was a means of my learning endurance and perseverance through tasks I didn't enjoy as well as those I did, and a way of discovering great, wild parts of the UK in my expeditions, with a quality group that stuck together through all the awards. I think it brings out the best in people. When I turned up for my Oxford admissions interview, the panel said 'Oh! DofE!'; they were impressed.

I'm involved today in church youth activity holidays with CYFA, and I still remember the Duke's direct and humorous advice to me when I met him in person on receipt of my gold award when I was 18. He talked about the importance of the 14-18 episode in anyone's life, and the need not to pre-empt that developmental stage by moving children into these things too early. Of course, he said it better than I just did. Much more funny.

It's a great scheme. Nothing else quite works the same, and I hope it runs for many years to come. Our 3 children are also getting a lot out of it in their turn.