I started my DofE journey in 1970 when I gained the bronze award with my local guides group. However this wasn’t my first association with the award because my dad, Frank Burns, deputy head teacher at the Tennyson Secondary School in Mablethorpe had started a group with some of his pupils in 1966. I was inspired by them & I went on to complete the silver & gold awards, mainly on my own as we had moved to a different area of the country & there were no DofE groups there at the time. I learned creativity, resourcefulness, perseverance & patience. Putting I had gained the gold award on my CV helped me to get my first job as a primary school teacher, where many of my DofE acquired skills were put to good use. I have recently retired from a successful career in education & I would like to acknowledge that participating in the DofE award scheme as a young person has helped me to achieve much in my life. Many thanks to HRH Prince Philip for setting up the scheme & for inspiring so many young people over the years & in the years to come.