28/02/13….Thame students receive Gold Awards from the Earl of Wessex

A group of former students at Lord Williams?s School, Thame, recently attended a reception at St James? Palace where they received their Gold Duke of Edinburgh?s Awards from the Earl of Wessex.

Their Awards were the culmination of several years involved in a range of challenging activities including expeditions, volunteering in the local community, undertaking physical activity and developing new skills and interests.

The proud Award winners were Sam Abbott, Martin Bloomfield, Mark Brougham, James Cheung, Emily Clarke, Matthew Hopgood, Oliver Jackson and Jonathan Scowen.
The students were supported by their parents, by Lord Williams?s School and Thame Community DofE (Duke of Edinburgh) Partnership Committee members, Wendy Bloomfield and David Doulin.

One of the participants, Jonathan Scowen, said:
?DofE was such a fulfilling experience, from which I have many happy memories. The presentation day
at St James? Palace was an amazing celebration of all we had achieved over the years doing the Award.

“It was brilliant to see Prince Edward and talk to him about our favourite bits, as well as hearing from
Richard Stillgoe, who hosted the afternoon. I would recommend the DofE Award to everyone and would like to thank the many volunteers who make the Lord Williams’s scheme so successful.?

Headteacher of Lord Williams?s School, David Wybron, added: ?To achieve Gold in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award represents a very impressive achievement. Our
students have been successful because of their strength of character, resourcefulness, enjoyment of
teamwork and service to others. They will be joining a special band of young people.”

This year a further 20 students at Lord Williams?s are pursuing their Gold Award, with a further 65
students working at Silver level and 126 students working towards their Bronze Award – all made possible by the continued support of local volunteers and a wide range of community organisations, clubs and societies that welcome the young people into their regular activities.