I achieved the Gold award in 1971, through my local Girls Brigade company. I was a student nurse at Bart's by the time the invitation to the palace came through, and the sister on the ward would not allow me the off duty to attend! But Matron overruled her.
Working for the award improved my confidence and resilience and prepared me for a life of pioneering both in nursing and in Baptist ministry. The culmination of all that was the founding and directing of a new national health-focused charity serving the community through faith groups, called Parish Nursing Ministries UK. Though I have now retired, the charity continues to flourish and grow, with nearly 100 registered nurses serving around 43,000 people a year, and I now act as international Consultant to to the Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing.
Thank-you to Prince Philip and all those who encouraged me in the local Girls Brigade company.