The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme

Finally, thanks must be expressed to the leavers from the choir, which will be much diminished at the beginning of next term; particularly missed will be Mr. Williams who has lead the Deacon's Basses for the last two years; it will be difficult to find a more cheerful successor.

D.J.B.

THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH'S AWARD SCHEME-A PERSONAL VIEW

This scheme was launched back in 1958 by a group of eminent people, led by Sir John Hunt and the Duke, to give a challenge and a purpose to the youth of to-day. Its ideas were to encourage initiative, creative leisure, physical fitness and a sense of duty to the community, and three separate levels of the award were introduced to provide a successive challenge. Each level is divided into four groups; the Expedition, involving the walking of a given distance in a given time, a certain number of overnight camps, the ability to fend for oneself and a knowledge of first aid; Rescue and Public Service, which requires the candidate to undergo a course of training and service with some public body, for example the Police, Fire Brigade or Civil Defence; Pursuits and Projects, in which you have to follow a hobby for a certain period and satisfy an examiner of your proficiency; and Fitness, consisting of a certain selection of athletic activities, in which a certain standard must be reached. All groups must be completed to gain each award.

The group that attracts most interest and publicity is, however, the Expedition, because incompetence or inexperience can and does lead to injury and loss of life, especially at the Gold level. This is because of the time and distance requirements, 50 miles in 3 days, but more particularly because it has to take place over some of the roughest country in Britain, areas like Snowdonia, Dartmoor, Exmoor and the Cairngorms, without the use of many paths or roads. A candidate properly trained in the use of a compass and map and in emergency techniques will come through, a poorly-trained one may suffer.

Here at St. Peter's we have to undergo rigorous training before being allowed to attempt the Gold Award Expedition and I have been asked to describe one such training weekend partly to reassure parents, anxious about their offspring's safety and partly to inform the School just what those odd fellows who disappear for the weekend two or three times every Summer Term actually do while they are gone. This is certainly no refuge for the idle, who have to join something to escape their housemaster's vigilant eye.

Preparation began about a fortnight beforehand, when we were given details of our dropping points and destination and a rough outline of our expected route. The six of us in the group, myself, D. J. Doyle, I. M. Macleod, J. R. Wilson, J. S. W. Cook and A. J. E. Hodges, then worked out the final details and discussed the question of food, always a thorny one. On the Tuesday before the expedition we presented a final description

(written) of the route and pursued the question of food with Mr. Burbridge, who agreed to pass on our requests to the caterers. On the Thursday meths and paraffin bottles were filled and some packing was done.

At 12-20 p.m. Friday, we collected food from the kitchens and final packing was done.

Promptly at 3-45 p.m., changed into walking kit, we assembled to board the bus. At 4-05 p.m. the bus arrived and we reached our dropping point, Helwath Bridge, between Whitby and Scarborough, at 6-00 p.m., only half an hour late. The weather was misty but we felt confident of our ability to find our way ! We ploughed our way doggedly and short-sightedly across Fylingdales Moor. It must be admitted that our navigation, entirely ,by compass, was faultless till we reached a certain Louven Howe, two-thirds of the way across. Then, in a momentary flash of inspiration, our navigator steered us gaily off along the wrong line of boundary stones, with the willing concurrence of the rest of the party. We soon realised our mistake however, when the expected landmarks failed to materialise and headed due West for the Pickering-Whitby road, which we reached half-a-mile too far South and an hour late.

We pitched camp at about 9-30 p.m. at Brocka Beck, on a sheltered plateau. The author produced a stew, and by 11-00 p.m. we were in bed after laying bets on whether search parties would be required for any of the Silver groups. After a comfortable and undisturbed night, we rose at 7-00 a.m. and breakfast was cooked. We left at 9-30 a.m., and after some essential provisioning in Goathland, reached the moor at about 10-45 a.m. To our considerable amazement we managed to navigate our way exactly through dense mist, thick heather and the odd bog, for some nine miles from Julian Park Farm, near Goathland, to Ralph Cross, above Rosedale and beyond into Westerdale, certain of the party acquiring numerous blisters in the process! We obtained permission to camp at Waites House Farm.

Up again at seven the following morning, we set off at 9-15 a.m. and after consulting a rather more friendly farmer, whose cows, incidentally, produce first rate milk, we elected to change our route in view of the heavy mist and climbed, on a rather more southerly course than intended, out of Westerdale. We greeted our trusted friend the old railway at about 10-15 a.m., and strode tunefully along it through heavy rain, to Bloworth crossing, above Bransdale. Here we met a Silver group, consisting Of E. M. Holgate, G. W. Stewart and H. E. D. Little, and as our routes were the same decided to join them. Unfortunately, fate had another trick in store for us, for owing to the atrocious weather, we missed our turning up on Urra Moor and found ourselves ploughing through bogs and Bronze Age earthworks into Urra, a mile from Seave Green, our destination. We finally limped into Chop Gate, where we had decided to wait for the bus, at about 12-45 p.m., some 30 miles and 42 hours from Helwath Bridge.

Our tribulations were not yet over, however, for after lunch, the party now increased by the arrival of another Silver group scattered itself throughout the village, looking for shelter from the cold east wind. The bus arrived at 2 p.m. and four people boarded it while a fifth went to collect the party. Unfortunately, the bus driver decided not to wait and condemned the rest 28