Bumper crop of DofE successes in West Berks

More than 400 participants rose to their various challenges as part of the scheme and received their awards from the Lord Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire, Mary Bayliss.
The scheme for young people aged between 14 and 25, involves participants completing a programme of activities, which includes physical activity, learning a new skill or hobby and helping others.
The award is non-competitive and provides a personal challenge to increase self-confidence, responsibility and skills; and participants can challenge themselves in their own programme at three levels: bronze, silver and gold.
Among the 476 recipients were 358 bronze awards, 81 silver and 37 golds.
Receiving their gold awards were Camilla Beavon, Alexandra Bessant, Matthew Bonewell, Olivia Gannon, Faye Hissett, Kirsty Hughes, Alice Lightowlers, Fiona Sidorowicz, Robert Southern, Alexander Sutcliffe and Andrew Waterfield through Adventure Dolphin, Pangbourne.
Downe House School saw Jemima Atkins, Rosanna Atkins, Pandora Bibby, Cindy Chang, Emily Comyn, Farren Elvidge, Elizabeth Galbraith, Eliza Garvin, Elizabeth Gold, Georgina Horn, Jennifer Hunter, Alice Kirk, Victoria Madeley and Chloe Searle get gold awards.
Students at Pangbourne College getting gold included Rohan Batra, Charlotte Comery, Emily Kelvey, Charles Sykes, Alex Townsend, Rupert Viney and James Wilson.
Jack Arnold, Lewis Martin and Max Thorne from Mary Hare School picked up their golds along with Emma Bridgewood from Little Heath School and Kirsty Perry from Theale Green while Jack Holdcroft and Georgie Metcalfe completed the scheme independently.
West Berkshire's executive councillor for Young People, Irene Neill (Con, Aldermaston) said: "The D of E Award is an amazing institution. The benefits to the young people taking part are endless.
“The scheme enables them to learn essential life skills which have a practical use for both their future in the work place and for communicating well across the board."