I have many happy memories of the Scheme and was on my way to gold when I ran out of years. My future work career started when I did some volunteer work in a children's home
and did not want to leave. The outdoor camping which was
part of the award was done in Wales in atrocious weather
resulting in our tents being washed out and we got taken
in their houses by local people. We got some laughs and
good stories for the future out of that. Finally, I got to meet
the Duke at a D of E event, which he arrived by piloting his
own helicopter but what I remember most of all was that
one of his shoes had the wrong colour lace. I assume it had
broken and he had to borrow one but he could not find the
right colour! I think the D of E Award Scheme is wonderful
and cannot praise it enough - what a legacy.