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Record numbers succeed in Duke of Edinburgh awards





The 617 participants received their awards, with a West Berkshire record of 76 gold awards being presented by the Lord Lieutenant for the Royal County of Berkshire, Mary Bayliss, at an awards ceremony at St Bartholomew’s School, Newbury, on Sunday.
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.
Included in the bumper crop of gold recipients were Matthew Ashmore, Sabina Batra, Anna Broadbent, Louisa Carlisle, Jack Hulse, Timothy Hunt, Christina Lea, Fabian Macrae, Joshua Palmer, Jennifer Ransom, Hannah Ridzuan-Allen, Elizabeth Shorland, William Usherwood and Lucy Wildsmith from Activity Team West Berkshire.
Those on the alternative curriculum (which includes young carers, for instance) taking gold were Ashley Bessell, Ross Jenkin, Zoe Nay, Danelle Rednapp, Jordan Sheppard.
Downe House School saw Ji Hyun Ahn, Poppy Barrett-Fish, Catherine Brown, Florice Cole-Fontayn, Leah Colthurst, Annabel Galbraith, Chloe Hill, Georgina Hill, Serena Hughes-Onslow, Amelia McWhirter, Olivia Morgan, Emily Muncey, Rosamond Nicholson, Alexia Peel Yates and Amelia Tudhope collect their golds.
Little Heath School pupils David Dunthorne, Alice Moore, Eleanor Moore, Alex Moulsley, Katie Murphy, Mark Turtle, James Whitaker, Ross Whitaker and Ella Yates received their gold awards.
Mary Hare School saw Aaron Thomas, Andrew Tolmie and Timothy Weston, while Mortimer Youth Club saw Amy Jewell, Samantha Millard and Holly Sykes pick up gold, as did Dominic Hinton from Newbury Open Centre.
Pangbourne College’s wide scoop of golds included, Suzanne Allen, Jonathon Batchelor, Christopher Bennett, Nicola Campling, Daniel Campling, Menna Chmielewski, Nathan Gumbley, Matthew Hill, Lawrence Howard, Kayleigh Hutchinson, Will Kilgour, Henry Meredith, Emily Palmer, Harriet Palmer, Nat Rennie, Rebecca Slevin, Neil Snyman, Guy Trees, Gareth Waller, Peter Wauchope, Shannon Webb and Laura Webb.
Ailsa Maclean, Kirsty Maclean, Emmaline O’Toole and Bethany Sullivan completed the scheme independently.
West Berkshire's executive for children and young people, Irene Neill (Cons, Aldermaston) said: “The Duke of Edinburgh is a winner for all involved – not least the young people who enjoy amazing experiences and essential life skills that will help them to achieve in all areas of their life, but also the communities and individuals who benefit from the help and support that the volunteering aspect that it provides.”



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