Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme

facilities available in this activity. Wednesday afternoons have generally been over-subscribed, but Sunday flying, when more pilots were available, has not enjoyed as much popularity.

The hang glider has not been in operation as the minimum of four who have parental consent has not been forthcoming. It is still a possibility with adequate support.

Camp in 1976 was at R.A.F. Lossiemouth. This was popular, in spite of the long journey involved, and cadets who attended were able to see the up-to-date aircraft and to enjoy a varied and instructive programme. The 1977 camp (U.K.) was at R.A.F. North Luffenham near Stamford. Three senior cadets, F/Sgt. Markwick-Smith, Sgts. Schofield and Wilson were able to attend a camp at R.A.F. Bruggen, Germany during the Easter holiday. P.L.H.

The year has been one of rapid expansion for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme in the School. The range of activities seems to be growing even faster.

The Interest Section has included Brass-Rubbing, Taxidermy, Marquetry, Philately, Filography, Chess, Farming, Swimming, Canoeing, Poultry-Keeping—to name but very few. We are grateful to all the Supervisors and Assessors who give so freely of time and skill.

The Physical Activity Section involves Athletics or Circuit Training or Swimming or (for the first time recently) Skulling (sic.).

Expeditions—especially on the two for Bronze Awards— seem to have struck the wettest weekends of term or holiday. I refer you to the later Weather Report. Save for thanks, again, to supervisors and assessors and Mr. Macdonald for the driving—and for so much else in the running of the Award this year—I think I need not add anything to that account.

The Service Section has included the old faithfuls of First Aid, Fire Service and Police Service; and a new addition in the form of a course in Industrial Safety, for which we are indebted to RoSPA and Mr. Horwell. My own contact with that course seems to have consisted of arranging a flow of projectionists who would later come back and turn green when asked about the film they had shown.

One of the pleasing features of the year has been an extensive breakdown of the rigid 12-month cycle of the Group: quite a lot of boys joined Silver direct, and thus will not finish until September. Others have expeditions or interests to complete. Others are moving freely in and out of the Scheme as their other occupations allow; and boys are also taking part in activities—such as expeditions or courses—which have been arranged by the Scheme who yet have no intention of aiming for a full Award. This is good. My thanks to all, for all the help and encouragement received.

On Saturday, July 2nd, the following Awards were presented by Mr. L. Baynes, Senior Youth Officer, North Yorkshire: — 39

Certificates in Occupational Safety :— John Aldridge Geoffrey Brown Robin Bruce Crispin Crossley Sandy Day John Lethem Kenneth Murray Neil Pattison

Mark Pullan Martin Turner Simon Wetherell Ian Wiggle

BRONZE AWARDS 1977

Paul Aagaard Nicholas Adams Ian Anderson Bartle Aylmer Richard Barrett David Bird Timothy Bough Robert Bowles Joseph Boyd Guy Bramley James Brown Richard Brown Michael Bulman Charles Burdass Jeremy Clayton Christopher

Coates-Walker Andrew Collinson David Cuckston Jonathan Drinkwater Duncan Fallow Jonathan Greaves Jeremy Hicks Ian Hindhaugh John Howie Clifford Irwin lain Johnstone David Kaner lain McLeish David Miller Henry Needier Guy Norman Michael Powell Stuart Prest John Richardson Timothy Stephenson Mark Theakston Michael Thomson Marcus Watson Yeo Beng Siew

Stewart Andrews Stephen Buckle Mark Buckley Dennis Burton

David Barron Michael Christelow Michael Dixon

SILVER AWARDS 1977

Richard Dyson Simon Megginson Anthony Miller Nicholas Mortimer Gavin Ray Timothy Raylor Nicholas Townsend Marcus Tyson

GOLD AWARDS 1977

Jonathan Dryland Andrew Holmes Philip Johnson Jonathan Kneeshaw Alistair Robinson Patrick Smith

D.H.H.

BRONZE EXPEDITION

Weather

The Saturday proved to be the worst day possible to set out on an Expedition of this type. The sky was totally clouded over and the weather report was not very encouraging. The rain began about 15 minutes after the coach left and it just seemed that our luck was out.

Just before we were dropped at Helmsley the rain stopped and placed a glimmer of hope into us. This was not to last, as about a mile-and-ahalf from our set-off point the rain re-started. To add to the fact that our hopes had been drowned, it took it upon itself to add thunder and lightning to the list of discomforts. The rain did not last long, for it soon turned to hail. The thunderstorm placed itself neatly over the top of us and proceeded to try and dissuade us from going any further. This failed so it tried harder.

We were approaching a T-junetion to the turn-off for our second or third check point. We decided that to preserve the maps from the same fate as had befallen us we would crowd under a tree. Mark Theakston decided against this plan and stepped boldly out into the road. There was a flash, and a tree stump only about 25 yards away felt the impact of a 40