Neil Wilson
My introduction to the DofE award scheme was within days of joining the Air Training Corps at the age of 15 - quite late by my peers standards.
It was Sept '82, and I was given the opportunity of joining a group planning their expedition for the Silver Award, short of a team member.
At the time I knew very little about the scheme, and was cajoled into taking part. Our team leaders were a couple of years older than me, Flt Sgt Chris Knight and Corporal Charlie Wallington. Both very charismatic, an inspiration to us lesser mortals, and went on to join the forces - Para's and Royal Marines respectively.
What followed were lessons in map reading, survival techniques, campcraft and the necessities of good, well planned, packing of a rucksack.
Our dry run was to a local field close to a river bank, miles from home. I recall we had very little sleep as Chris and Charlie retold many tales of camps long past.
The Silver (and Gold) expeditions took place in the Lake District in October ('82 & '84) under very wet and arduous conditions. It made the awards well worth the effort.
I recall a couple occasions where, as a team, we took a wrong turn and had to retrace our steps for several miles - the terrain just wouldn't allow for a "short cut" to catch up. It left a lasting impression on me about how important the detail is, and how important it is to get things right first time; scaling down a scree slope in fading light to get to your camp is no joke!
These experiences, and many like them in the other sections of the award, were intensely formative.
Being mentioned in despatches by the Camp Commandant of an R.A.F. base was just another example of my efforts to understand nuances of leadership in the Residential section.
The crowning glory of it all was the most memorable experience: the invitation to St James's Palace to be presented by His Royal Highness Prince Philip.
I now run my own manufacturing company.
It was Sept '82, and I was given the opportunity of joining a group planning their expedition for the Silver Award, short of a team member.
At the time I knew very little about the scheme, and was cajoled into taking part. Our team leaders were a couple of years older than me, Flt Sgt Chris Knight and Corporal Charlie Wallington. Both very charismatic, an inspiration to us lesser mortals, and went on to join the forces - Para's and Royal Marines respectively.
What followed were lessons in map reading, survival techniques, campcraft and the necessities of good, well planned, packing of a rucksack.
Our dry run was to a local field close to a river bank, miles from home. I recall we had very little sleep as Chris and Charlie retold many tales of camps long past.
The Silver (and Gold) expeditions took place in the Lake District in October ('82 & '84) under very wet and arduous conditions. It made the awards well worth the effort.
I recall a couple occasions where, as a team, we took a wrong turn and had to retrace our steps for several miles - the terrain just wouldn't allow for a "short cut" to catch up. It left a lasting impression on me about how important the detail is, and how important it is to get things right first time; scaling down a scree slope in fading light to get to your camp is no joke!
These experiences, and many like them in the other sections of the award, were intensely formative.
Being mentioned in despatches by the Camp Commandant of an R.A.F. base was just another example of my efforts to understand nuances of leadership in the Residential section.
The crowning glory of it all was the most memorable experience: the invitation to St James's Palace to be presented by His Royal Highness Prince Philip.
I now run my own manufacturing company.
