One hundred and fifty young people from the East Herts area, together with family and friends, gathered in the Memorial Hall at the College on Tuesday 25th April to receive their well-earned bronze, silver and gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

From the Bishop’s Stortford area, eighty pupils from the College, thirty from Hertfordshire & Essex High School, sixteen from Leventhorpe School and one from the Sawbridgeworth Rangers were presented with certificates by the Lord Lieutenant of Hertfordshire, Simon Bowes Lyon. Chauncy School from Ware was also represented (three pupils).

The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, which is celebrating its Golden Jubilee this year, involves completing four tasks – serving people in the community, following a hobby, taking up a physical activity of some kind and going on an expedition.

Twelve of the young people attending the presentation evening had achieved the prestigious gold Award, for which they also had to undertake a four-day residential activity of their choice. 

College pupils, Jonathan Round of Brooke Gardens, provided a musical interlude whilst Laura Smith of The Stewarts and Christopher Courtman of Plaw Hatch Close spoke about their residential experiences helping at a camp with disabled people. Christopher also experienced being part of the staff at Kentwell Hall, dressing as a steward in a costume he had to make himself.

The speaker, Mark Ilot, ex-England and Essex bowler, entertained the audience with stories from his career that emphasised the need for commitment, leadership and teamwork for success, all of which, he said, was present in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.