The Duke of Edinburgh`s Award Oakham School 1960-2014

Transcription

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Oakham School 1960-2014
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
at
Oakham School
1960-2014
Produced for
the occasion of the celebration of the 5000th. Award
at Oakham School, Saturday 21st May 2011
and updated since then
by
Brian Needham, MBE, MA (Oxon), BPhil, FRGS, FRES, FCollP
THE DUKE of EDINBURGH’s AWARD
To inspire, guide and support young people in their
self-development and recognise their achievements.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
At the DofE we strive to achieve our mission through personal development programmes and the
assessment and presentation of Awards.
All our programmes are driven by the following ten guiding principles, which are at the heart of
everything we do:
1: Non-competitive
A DofE programme is a personal challenge and not a competition against others. Every
participant’s programme is tailor-made to reflect their individual starting point, abilities and
interests.
2: Achievable by all
A Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is achievable by any young person who chooses to take up its
challenge, regardless of ability, gender, background or location.
3: Voluntary
Whilst DofE programmes may be offered within school, college, work time, custody or extracurricular activity, young people choose to do a programme and commit some of their free time to
undertake their activities.
4: Personal development
A DofE programme inspires personal and social development. The value to young people is
dependent on personal commitment, the learning process and the quality of the experience.
5: Personalised
Young people design their own programme, which can be tailored to suit their personal
circumstances, choices and local provision. They start at whichever level suits them best and they
can take as long as they wish (within the age limits) to achieve an Award.
6: Balanced
Our aim is to ensure that participants experience development of the whole person; mind, body
and soul. By undertaking activities focusing on at least four different aspects of development,
young people complete a balanced and wide-ranging programme.
7: Progressive
At each level of engagement, a DofE programme demands progressively more time, commitment
and responsibility from the participant.
8: Achievement focused
Before starting an activity, young people are encouraged to set their own challenging goals. If
they aim for these goals and show improvement they will achieve a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
9: Demand commitment
A DofE programme demands persistence and commitment and cannot be completed with a short
burst of enthusiasm. Participants are encouraged to continue with activities and to maintain their
interest beyond their programme requirements.
10: Enjoyable
Young people and Leaders should find participation enjoyable, fulfilling and rewarding.
Oakham School
Oakham School is dedicated to the promotion of a holistic education, providing a broad spectrum of
opportunity enabling each boy and girl to find their niche, and hence develop their interests and
talents. Within that breadth the school strives to achieve the highest possible standards both inside and
outside the classroom. Our commitment to the Total Curriculum means that the school aims to
provide an education which prepares Oakhamians to have the highest possible expectations of what
they can achieve while at school and, even more importantly, in the world beyond Oakham.
The author wishes to acknowledge the assistance of pro-bono proofreader Paul Churchouse
(Old Oakhamian 1971-78) in the production of this booklet [www.paulchurchouse.co.uk]
History
Oakham School was founded in 1584.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme (as it was then known) was founded in 1956 with a
pilot scheme based upon the Moray Badge instituted by Kurt Hahn at Gordonstoun School in
1934 and the County Badge adapted by Moray in 1941. HRH The Duke of Edinburgh had
been a participant in this Scheme when educated at Gordonstoun, and Kurt Hahn convinced
the new Prince Consort that such a scheme could be spread nationwide. The first director of
the new Scheme, to which Prince Philip gave his name and total support, was Sir (later Lord)
John Hunt of Everest fame.
The very first Gold Awards in the country were gained in 1958.
That same year, 1958, a parallel scheme for girls was piloted, but with a Design for Living
Section rather than a Physical Activity Section.
By 1960 some 35000 boys and 7000 girls had commenced on the Scheme. More importantly,
Oakham School commenced on the Scheme, as an Independent Operating Authority, and in
1961 the first Silver and Bronze awards were gained, with the first Gold awards following in
1963.
In 1969 the two parallel boys and girls schemes were united into one for all 14-21 year olds;
even so, the programmes remained slightly different between girls and boys.
In 1980 it became one programme for all 14-25 year olds.
In 1987 the 100,000th Gold Award was obtained.
In 2000 Oakham School became the first single unit to achieve 1000 gold awards, which
prompted a visit from HRH The Duke of Edinburgh himself.
In 2011 the landmark number of 5000 Awards was passed, yet another world record;
approximately there have been over 2200 bronze awards gained, over 1700 silver awards
gained, and over 1400 gold awards gained – the numbers increase daily!
Today young people in 110 countries take part in the Scheme (or its associated equivalent),
and there are around half a million current participants, some 200,000 of them in the UK.
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The Scheme at Oakham : 1960-75
Oakham CCF officer, Lt. T.C.M. (Mike) Rees, the Director of Sport, who had served as an
officer during National Service in Korea and who had specialised in outdoor education during
his diploma studies at Loughborough College, was the impetus for the introduction of The
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award into the CCF’s arduous training activities, which he officered,
with the enthusiastic assistance of one time Marine Commando Captain R.M. (Richard)
Davies. Richard remembers a discussion involving himself, Mike, and Leighton Jenkins, the
Welsh rugby international teaching at Oakham that 1958-59 academic year, during which
involvement in the Award Scheme was advocated strongly by Leighton; then Mike recalls
that the Headmaster, John Buchanan, and he attended a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
conference at Malvern College sometime in 1959, at which the then Award Director, Sir John
(later Lord) Hunt “sold” the scheme to independent schools; however, the first mention of
involvement in the Scheme that appears in The Oakhamian comes in 1960.
The first recorded Duke of Edinburgh’s Award success was that of (Sgt.) D.W.James, who
was presented with his Silver Award at the CCF Annual Inspection on June 15th. 1961 by the
inspecting officer Lt. General Sir Oliver Leese, Bt., KCB, CBE, DSO (there may have been
other previous awards, but they are not recorded), and soon the Field Training Section of the
CCF was created specifically for those boys engaged in DofE work: A separate company has
been formed this term for those who wish to attempt The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Scheme. One group of boys has been engaged on work for the Silver Award, whilst two
groups have progressed steadily towards the Bronze Award. Expeditions have been carried
out under a cloak of secrecy, and so far all the parties have returned in the correct amount of
time. [The Oakhamian, Winter Term 1961]
An early “Cloak of Secrecy” DofE expedition (probably bronze or possibly silver) in Church Passage
4
The Summer Term 1999 edition of The Oakhamian printed a Silver Expedition log of T.W.D.
(Timothy William Peile) Harris, which he had completed 3rd – 5th March 1961:
The first day of the expedition was the least interesting for me. We saw little wildlife but for
the occasional pheasant and pigeon. I was rather interested though in the church at
Empingham and wished I had more time to explore it. Most of the first day was spent on the
A1 but, as I said before, we saw little wildlife. But the nearest to this were a couple of tramps,
the one looking more prosperous than the other, the one having a bicycle, the other walking
like us. But as we walked on the Stamford by-pass we passed Burghley Estate. There was, in
the woods of the estate, a herd of red deer with their newly-grown antlers which were still
covered by fur. A much more interesting sight than the deer beheld us as we walked by the
RAF Station of Wittering. Standing on the runways were the huge Valiant bombers, waiting
at a minute’s notice to take off on a deadly mission. They looked like huge birds resting on
the runways, with their wings open. Most of the wildlife near the station and also near the A1
had been frightened away by the noise of traffic and planes. We soon left this district and
entered the quiet sleepy village of Wansford, filled with half-timbered houses and another
church like that at Empingham, early English. When we reached our campsite we found a
quiet uninhabited area. Really the ideal site, as we had arrived reasonably early at this
campsite. I was able to have a good look round. I first noticed an open-cast iron-ore mine
which we were to see later on. In the wood where we had camped there were dozens upon
dozens of pheasants and partridges. When we at last settled down for the night the bombers
from Wittering came over and kept us awake for even longer than we had bargained. Though
all of us had little sleep that night, it was pleasant and relaxing listening to the sound of the
rustle of leaves as a pheasant took off or the hoot of an owl.
Next morning we were all awake early and ready for the next day’s journey. We soon had
breakfast over and struck camp. At last we started walking again and crossed a few fields
onto the road. A closer view was seen of the iron-ore quarries. The ore was not that deeply
bedded, probably the Rutland – Lincoln Jurassic ore. It was not very deep down so could be
open-cast mined with a drag and crane and taken by lorry to some place like Corby or
Asfordby. Just before reaching the road we saw a dead hare which looked as though it had
been shot but had run on some distance before collapsing. The Wansford-Kingscliffe road
was very straight and interesting. On our right was part of Rockingham Forest which had
been replanted with conifers when it had been taken over by the National Trust. But more
surprising and interesting were the plain fields, some which had been ploughed and planted
with corn, some were fallow and a number which were having land drains put down to help
with drainage. These fields were full of wildlife, rabbits chasing each other. The pheasant
with two or three of his wives. The green plover swooping and diving, their wings motionless
but gliding perfectly using the currents of wind as their guide and guard. A pair of yellow
hammers chasing each other along the hedgerows, first one side of the road and then the
other. The little wren carrying nesting material for its future little home. Then, suddenly, a
flock of black-headed gulls swooped over my head on the way to the sea as the weather was
approaching. These few points made me think of the spring and then I noticed how the hedges
5
were becoming green and the buds on the trees were opening and coming into leaf. As we
neared Kingscliffe, a quiet little village, out of a ploughed field, almost from nothing, came a
flock of ten or more partridges. But all this soon stopped as we entered Kingscliffe and
civilisation. We passed through the village, which was not properly awake yet. We walked
until we came across some small boys with bows and arrows, who followed us, attacking us
like a stage coach, for about half a mile, until we turned off the road to go into some woods
which was another part of the Rockingham forest. This particular wood was fenced off to
keep rabbits, hares and other vermin out. But near the edge of the wood I noticed a number
of boxes, like nesting boxes for young pheasants. Obviously the fence around the wood was
meant to keep the young pheasant in. This little path we followed was quite easy going as it
had almost dried out and had been used by a tractor. One could see how the foresters had
lopped the lower branches of the fir trees in order to encourage upward growth and then
make these trees more suitable for telegraph poles and pit props. Soon we came to a part of
the wood which was more thickly overgrown and along one of the fences were hanging about
thirty weasels, obviously killed and stopped from looting the pheasant eggs and young. We
soon got on our way again. As I passed another wood nearby I heard the hounds. After a few
more miles Barrowden came in sight and our new campsite. We inquired where we were to
camp and settled down to arrange the campsite, got the tents up and collected wood for the
fire. The rest of the day we rested and worked out next day’s route.
Next morning we were up early to find quite a hard ground frost. We soon had a hot
breakfast and were off on our way to Morcott. We walked through Morcott to Wing following
the main road. When we reached Wing we walked across country over the Gwash and up a
very steep hill into Manton. Then we began walking back to Oakham and arrived back at
11.30 am.
Times and styles have changed between boys’ silver walking expeditions in Rutland in 1961
and in The Lake District in 2011, fifty years’ later!
6
In the Spring Term 1962 edition, numbers are reported as 35 engaged on the silver
programme, while “the rest” were engaged on the bronze programme; fourteen are recorded
as completing the silver expedition of (it is claimed) thirty-eight miles with two nights of
camping, and then taking a St. John’s Ambulance First Aid course for the Service section;
and in addition to the silver award mentioned above come five Bronze Awards, the first such
recorded: R.D.Smith, M.D.S.Evans, J.G.Hobbs, D.F.Dickens, and A.J.S.Sutcliffe.
In 1962 there were three cadets on the gold programme, eight on the silver, and seven on the
bronze, with four silver and thirteen bronze medallists recorded in addition to the above.
Finally, the first ever Gold
medallists were successful in
1963, having undertaken their
gold
expeditions
in
The
Cheviots:
G.R.
(Gregory)
Houghton, M.K.Waistell, A.P.
(Anthony)
Barber,
D.A.Thomas,
J.R.
(John)
Towns,
R.J.
(Richard)
Merriman,
C.P.
(Colin)
Machin, and M.S.Wildbur. The
first six of these (in bold) are
known to have completed all the
Gold sections, and so become
the first-ever Gold Award
holders at the school, and it is
possible (although not recorded)
that the other two did so as well.
Indeed, the gold of Timothy
W.P.
Harris
(left)
was
unrecorded until he sent in his
certificate (and his silver log
with photographs) in 1999.
This integration of DofE with CCF led to some pertinent questions being asked by The
Oakhamian of the contingent commander, Lt.Col. H.J.Cox, who responded that First Aid,
Camping, Adventure Training and Physical Fitness are all optional subjects of the official
CCF curriculum, and it is these parts of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Scheme which are taken
during CCF Parades. The Pursuit (Skills, in modern parlance) Section is not done in Parade
time. Oakham was one of the first schools to integrate the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with
CCF training. In the new regulations, the War Office officially approves and welcomes this
integration. [The Oakhamian, Summer Term 1963]
7
Arduous training (or outdoor pursuits), CCF and DofE remained intermixed for over two
decades, up to 1982, partly because some funding came from the Ministry of Defence, but
also because the enthusiastic participants (teachers and pupils) tended to enjoy and wish to
belong to all three activities, or at least two of them, and the resulting ‘confusion’ was
accepted with good will by all for the common benefit. In fact, the decision was made in
September 1963 that all Third Form boys ought to undertake Bronze DofE before entering
the CCF in the Fourth Form, a year later than before, as a good and necessary preparation for
the CCF. This decision was forced upon the school as a result of a review of the CCF by the
Ministry of Defence that advocated cutting the length of service in the CCF from five to four
years; the only problem, of course, was that DofE activities were designed (then) for the 1421 age group, meaning that in fact some of Oakham’s DofE Bronze entrants were not only
commencing on the Scheme under age but actually achieving the Bronze level before
officially they were entitled to join. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award remained within the
CCF, and in 1965 had risen to over 80 volunteers at the three levels of Bronze, Silver and
Gold.
CCF Arduous Training, which included DofE expeditions, found a new location for three
consecutive years 1964 to 1966 as it crossed the Irish Sea (or St. George’s Channel) to the
Mourne Mountains for a mixture of backpacking, summiteering, and rockclimbing. In 1966
The Oakhamian reported that the weather was appalling for the whole camp. Cloud base
remained at about 1,500 feet for the seven days we were there and if it was not raining hard
it was drizzling steadily, except for a memorable half-hour on Sunday morning, but even then
it was not enough of a clearing to allow us to see the mountains as a whole. The group
consisting of Pachany, Barrington, Longmate, Gaydon and Baker weathered out the first
night, made the most of the slight lift in the weather on the second day, established an
excellent camp in a disused quarryman’s hut for the second night, and returned triumphant
on the afternoon of the third day. They had covered around 36 miles, most of it in thick mist
and rain, and the success of their movement through the mountains had depended entirely on
very good map reading and compass work with visibility for the most part down to around
five yards. ... Next April we hope to return to Northern Ireland, but this time to the Sperrin
Mountains.
That they did, and in 1967 a group comprising John (J.H.) Anderson, Richard (R.R.) Baker,
John (M.J.) Duggan, and Nidi (L.B.) Pachany completed a four-day Gold expedition, this
time in excellent sunny weather and having enjoyed excellent Irish hospitality – milk and
eggs from virtually every farmhouse they came across.
8
L.B.Pachany, R.R.Baker, T.B.Barrington, D.F.Longmate, C.N.Gaydon
somewhere in the Mourne Mountains in Northern Ireland on a DofE Silver expedition
Such training and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme was still intermixed with the
CCF, and the Yorkshire Dales was another new stamping ground for expeditions. Then it was
Ireland once again in 1968, with a gold DofE group of four and a silver DofE group of five,
with five other CCF cadets tagging along with three staff and the RSM, exploring Donegal,
based on Derg Lodge, enjoying fine weather throughout. The expedition groups forced their
way with some mishaps through the boggy moorland of the area: the local population were
most willing to help us in our directions but did not always prove accurate. One assured us
that the path to Donegal was clear and easy to follow, but having fought our way through the
encroaching vegetation for miles we emerged on to a main road, but where? It certainly was
not where we thought we had been going, and with muttered oaths about the reliability of
local misdirectors, we settled to taking back bearings, which is not easy in a completely
featureless countryside. We did succeed in stopping a local shepherd to ask him if he could
show us where we were on the map. After gazing at it for some time, upside down for the
most part, he announced that ‘Donegal not un thur’ and departed. We decided that he
couldn’t read English, let alone maps. [The Oakhamian, Summer Term 1969]
9
Arduous Training at Derg Lodge, Donegal, in 1968
When HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of
Edinburgh visited Rutland in May 1967 and
toured Doncaster Close by LandRover, Prince
Philip met and talked to the school’s
participants in the Award Scheme (the first of
three such occasions on which he would do so
in the years ahead, in addition to the thousand
or so he met at Gold Award Presentations in
Buckingham Palace or St. James’ Palace),
being presented with a sound and light-guided
toy for HRH Prince Andrew and HRH Prince
Edward made by Nigel Crockford, Michael
Bletsoe-Brown, Simon Begent and John
Widdall as part of their Award work. In May
1973 gold and silver candidates once more met
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh when he visited
Rutland Sixth Form College to meet
participants of the Award in Rutland; he was
shown the logs written by Lochinver expeditioners (somewhat incongruously for Rutland in
May, dressed in their winter mountaineering apparel) that previous April, and inspected
various Skills in progress (above left).
10
In 1969 Lt. H.Y. (Hugh) Hunter had taken over responsibility for Arduous Training (and so
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme) soon after he arrived to teach at the school, and
immediately he made a change in location for the spring vacation arduous training camp,
taking the troops up to his beloved Assynt in the North-West of Scotland where he owned a
small cottage in Lochinver which was to serve as the expedition base. And so commenced a
tradition still unbroken of DofE expeditions in Assynt, although today they are for the Gold
sections only and take place towards the end of the summer term, thereby avoiding what
could at times (and in many years was) possible arctic conditions of a Northern Scotland
spring. The first visit in 1970 set the standard: The whole place had an atmosphere so fresh
and so different from industrial England that it is an experience very worth taking in any sort
of weather. The expeditions themselves were routed around and between the mountains and
involved ploughing through drifts of thigh deep snow, crossing mountain rivers, and
hazarding some of the worst conditions that I (HYH) have ever seen. [The Oakhamian,
Summer Term 1970]
Conditions may have been bad at times,
but on no occasion in the forty years of
spring-time arduous training in Lochinver
did any expedition have to be aborted for
reasons of weather. In 1970 it was just two
silver expeditions and one gold expedition,
with a few strays from the CCF on
adventurous training; at its apogee in the
mid-1990s, it was a three week exercise
with eight boys’ gold expeditions, eight
boys’ silver expeditions, and six girls’ gold
expeditions.
In summer 1971 it was reported that the
numbers involved had soared to over 80
and that there were three gold award
holders in the school – Henry Knibb,
Roger Parker, and Francis Howard; the
expeditions at Lochinver (blessed by better
weather than in 1970) went off well
organised, and if some of the members
were disappointed at their results they
should remember that experience is what
counts and there is not one of the members
of these three expeditions I would not like
to have with me on a mountain wrote HYH
in The Oakhamian, but we are not told
why the members could be disappointed, save that he adds it is only fair to say that the
11
standard we now expect is probably much higher than many assessment panels would ask
for, and so the suspicion is that one or more of the expeditions was “failed” for one reason or
another. In early days, assessors could “fail” an expedition even on full completion of the
necessary distance on the grounds that it had not come up to some perceived (but
unannounced and indeterminate) standard, whereas today it is a straightforward and fairer
matter of completion of the approved route within the regulations of the scheme, with no pass
or fail concept allowed to assessors, who today (unlike the distant past) must be fully
accredited having gone through a training scheme and practical assessment.
To compound matters, that summer a group of four undertook their gold expedition in North
Wales – Tom Casswell, Stephen Le Mottee, Stephen Juggins and John Tabard – which was
“failed” in highly disputable circumstances (leading to an unsuccessful appeal to the
authorities in Windsor) by a member of the Welsh Panel.
(Above) The Gold DofE group at Lochinver in
1970; at the extreme left is Michael Hoy and
standing next to him is Rod Smith; at the extreme
right is Head of School Michael Anderson; the
four expeditioners are (left to right), H. F.
(Henry) Knibb, C.A. (Adam) Hyde, A.B. (Bruce)
Strickland and E.J.H. (Eddie) Lomas; (left) the
group in camp preparing a meal
12
The summer camp in 1970 was to the Lake
District, where leading climbers Adam Hyde
and Eddie Lomas made an ascent of, among
other climbs, Napes Needle, led (left) by
David Henton, the son of the School House
housemaster and geographer, Ronnie
Henton.
During it a start was made on Oakham’s
first-ever canoe expedition, but which had to
be abandoned through inclement weather.
A decade after the commencement of Award
activities through Arduous Training of the
CCF, at least 50 bronze, 30 silver, and 20
gold awards had been won; unfortunately,
records of those times are not complete.
Annual Inspection 1967 – the Inspecting Officer Air Commodore E.J.Morris, CB, CBE, DSO, DFC, RAF
talks to three of Oakham’s first Gold Award holders, Sgt. P.R.Kerby, Sgt. J.H.Anderson, and U/O
C.C.Sheilds, with a quizzical Contingent 2 i/c Major Michael Stevens (later Lt. Col., Commanding
Officer) onloooking.
13
Peak District Training Weekend Autumn 1971
1972 Lochinver, after an off-day ascent of Stac Polly (or Stac Pollaidh)
Left to right: unidentified, M.G. (Michael) Anderson, N. (Nicholas Perryman), BN
14
(Above) A resting group during Lochinver 72
(Below) PCW and HYH on the look out for groups in Lochinver 72
15
(Above) HYH’s labrador brings in a stray during Lochinver 72 and
(below) Peter Ramsay on Bronze in the Lakes in summer 73
16
(Above) HYH wonders where is is – he’s in the North York Moors in Spring 73 – and
(below) a Silver group appears where they ought to be
17
(Above) Silver in the North York Moors 1973 – Keith Thompson, Stephen Cory, Lester Wilson, Peter
Ramsay – and (below) a Gold group (Phil Wilson front right) enjoying lunch during Lochinver 73
18
Silver groups in Lochinver 1973 – (above) Phil Strawson, Simon Pennell, Christopher Palmer, Paul
Schorb, Hugh Collingwood, and (below) Lester Wilson, Keith Thompson, Peter Ramsay and Stephen
Cory; both groups returned for Gold in 1974
19
Lochinver 73 - crossing a river (above) by bridge and (below) by flight
20
Lochinver 73 – river crossing more in hope than expectation
Peter Ramsay ready for the fray,
watched by a quizzical Lester Wilson, while
on Silver during Lochinver 73; they will
remember their self-reliant night evacuation
during a heavy snow storm!
21
Tough going at Gold in Lochinver 73
22
Service weekends were now being spent on practice expeditions in the Peak District and the
North York Moors, silver and gold qualifying expeditions were being run in spring in
Lochinver, and bronze expeditions tended to take place either over summer weekends in
Rutland or during Summer Camp (wherever the CCF was allocated), during which gold and
silver training took place. Locations for these summer camps included Cultybraggan in
Scotland, the Lake District, and Dartmoor.
The supervisory team at work in Lochinver : Stephen Jarvis, Andrew Watkin, Patrick Wilson
The presence of Stephen Jarvis and Andrew Watkin (above) illustrates the extent to which the
whole expeditionary operation was dependent (as it still is today) on the voluntary assistance
of Old Oakhamians, parents, and friends, in supervising and assessing the expeditions; for
instance, throughout his whole time in charge Brian Needham ran the boys’ gold section
alone and recruited help from people such as the above for Practice and Qualifying
expeditions – the list is too numerous to place here, but quite a number have given such good
and lengthy service as to be awarded the DofE Certificate of Merit.
Other Old Oakhamians who entered the teaching profession went on to run DofE at their own
schools, such as Tim Young at George Watson’s in Edinburgh, John Lawrence at King’s
College in Wimbledon, and Alasdair Thorpe at Ampleforth.
23
Cultybraggan Gold Training Summer 73
24
Cultybraggan Gold Training Summer 73
25
Hugh Hunter, Award Officer 1969-75, visiting a group (Simon Pennell, Hugh
Collingwood, Paul Schorb) during Lochinver 1974
26
(Above) A somewhat concerned Silver group during Lochinver 75,
but (below) the weather turned out fine
27
(Above) Assessor Andrew Watkin (with the headband) intercepts his group during
Lochinver 75 while (below) a Silver group trudges up the Glenleirag pass
28
HYH, the Award Officer / Supervisor, safeguards his troops during his last Lochinver,
1975, by visiting the group camped “behind Ben More”
29
(Above) Lochinver 1974: Phil Strawson’s gold group at the “camp behind Ben More”; Phil is far left and
the supervisor, Brian Needham, is far right, with Chris Palmer, Simon Pennell and Paul Schorb (left to
righ) in between
(Below) Lochinver 1975: campsite on Loch Assynt; the Supervisor is on the left with (as yet) an
unidentified participant
30
The period 1960-1975 brought at least 121 bronze awards, 70 silver awards, and 41 gold
awards, a combined total of 230 awards. Unfortunately comprehensive records were not kept
in this period, and the above numbers relate to the known awards as published from time to
time in The Oakhamian. It is quite probable that others can be added to the list; those who
feel themselves unjustly omitted should contact [email protected] so that
corrections can be made.
Gold expeditioner Nigel Jones in Lochinver in 1975
31
The 1975 expeditions to Lochinver were described by silver participants Tim Young and Tim
Podd, who were in a group with Steve Jarvis and Marcus Somerville-Jacklin: Actually
reaching Lochinver about twenty-four hours after leaving Oakham was an adventure in itself,
with eight of those hours overnight on a train. .. Then breakfast at Inverness and across
northern Scotland in a three-tonner with a blizzard blowing in the back. We arrived at
Lochinver itself about 4pm on the afternoon of Wednesday March 26th and were distributed
to our respective cottages and caravans. It snowed all night, but was fine in the morning
when the three gold expeditions set out. The silvers spent a day in preparation, and we were
off on the Friday. Our group left Lochinver at about eight in the morning, and as we moved
inland in the minibus the snow started and thickened. We were dropped in the middle of
nowhere and the van disappeared back into the snow. We took a bearing into the snow and
began to wonder what precisely we were doing there! For the first two hours we were
virtually in a complete white-out, and we saw nothing except for the snow five yards ahead of
us. It was a trying time, but eventually we walked out of the blizzard to find ourselves in an
almost lunar landscape blanketed with six inches of snow. It was, in a sense, a godforsaken
place with no trees and no sign of man, but it was also beautiful with dominant peaks, steep
ridges, and ice-cold streams and lochans. We were unaccustomed to such solitude, but
inevitably such revelations were very much overshadowed by the physical fatigue and mental
concentration caused by the up and down, the deep snow, and the avoidance of peat bogs.
This was a tiredness never before experienced by any of the members of our group and in any
other situation we would have stopped; however, in a Duke of Edinburgh expedition you
don’t stop unless you have to, and there is a difference between being very tired and being
exhausted, although the two often appear to verge on each other. The first and second days
were very much like that, and as we gained height on the second day the snow became deeper
and deeper, until it was well above our knees on every step. Then we were forced to stop
every hundred yards, and a mile an hour was very good going. On top of that, we had a good
forty pounds on our backs, and however good the high-pack rucksac it is still forty pounds!
The camping side was some joke, with everything at varying degrees of dampness, the tent
poles too cold to touch, and frozen boots in the morning for those who left them outside.
However, the personal and camping equipment was all very good and it was a challenge to
our standards to match up to our equipment and training. We had received good mountain
training, both theoretically and practically, and we were all quietly confident of our physical
capabilities as a group. That was our expedition, and in some respects we were lucky. The
golds were out for four or five days as opposed to our three, and other groups were hindered
where individuals developed large blisters or, in one infamous case, where an individual
walked eleven miles through six inches of snow in plastic bags, having discarded his illfitting boots. That was Lochinver ’75. A lot of snow, a lot of sweat, and a lot of hills; a severe
test of human endurance, and where group depth and consistency count so much more than
individual heroism. [The Oakhamian Miscellany, September 1975]
It is useful to record that the supervisory team that year were: Hugh Hunter, Brian Needham,
Patrick Wilson, Rod Smith, RSM Ernie Wilton, Jim O’Kane, Mike Anderson, and Andrew
Watkin, with three Seventh Formers – Phil Strawson, Peter Ramsay, and Keith Thompson.
32
Neil Crawford demonstrating his Skill activity in rearing and training his buzzard Buzz, filmed for BBC
Animal Magic; the bird had been discovered badly injured, and Neil cared for it, trained it, and
eventually released it back to the wild
While much of the attention above has been given to the Expedition Section of the Award, all
candidates were engaged as well in Physical Activity (an easy section for boys at Oakham to
achieve), Skills (again reasonably straightforward to achieve, given all the opportunities
available at the school, but one in which boys had to be “encouraged” to complete), and
Service (First Aid, Fire Service, Lifesaving, and Community Service were the main
activities). In addition, of course, Gold candidates had to participate in the Residential
Project: for some this was on the physical side, going on a sports coaching course; for others
it was academic, pre-university study courses; for others it was concerned with conservation,
with the National Trust or the British Conservation Volunteers, for instance; for others it was
artistic, musical or drama courses; for others it was some form of practical voluntary service,
such as working in Cheshire Homes, refugee centres, inner-city hostels for the down-andouts, homes for the mentally ill, and the like. The Award Scheme pushed the Oakhamian out
of his or her comfortable habitat, and not just on expeditions.
The above number of awards undoubtedly would have been higher had all the boys devoted
sufficient time and energy in completing these other sections; for them – as indeed for most
candidates nationally – DofE meant expeditions, and it was at times difficult to convince
them otherwise, that the programme was a balanced approach to achievement.
33
At the end of the Winter Term in 1976 Hugh Hunter left for a headmastership of a
preparatory school in Scotland, and Brian Needham (who had been Hugh’s 2 i/c since 1971)
took over the running of the Award, even though it was still part of the CCF and he was not a
military man; however, the relationship with the CCF was very co-operative, and it was at the
insistence of the Ministry of Defence that the eventual split came in 1982. Of course,
expeditions remained at the centre of DofE activities, but one of the resolutions made at the
beginning of this lengthy period 1976-98 was a determination to turn participation into
awards. This was to come about through a closer administrative control, where DofE was not
just arduous training, much loved as that was, but ensuring that the participants accomplished
all sections of the Award.
This was made easier, in fact, by the participation of girls in the scheme at Oakham, for when
– at last – the CCF accepted girls into the Contingent, a number of them opted for the
Adventure Training Section. As in O level coursework, girls were much better in completing
the necessary tasks, mundane though they might be, to complete assignments, which in turn
put the boys on their mettle to achieve results. The first awards won by girls were in 1977
(Mary Melly at Gold, five at Silver – Lynn Bilton, Rosemary Whitney, Helen Leeson, Angela
Wright and Penny Wade - and fourteen at Bronze), twenty of the seventy-six awards won that
year. The decision was made at the outset to run the two sections separately, as boys and
girls; but when canoeing and then cycling entered the expedition field, numbers were such
that it made administrative sense to run these two sections as co-educational ventures. The
one and only advance into horse-riding as an expedition format was all female!
1981, the last full year in which DofE was a part of CCF, was the first year in which the
annual level of awards broke the 100 mark, with 51 Bronze (24 boys, 27 girls), 30 Silver (18
boys, 12 girls), and a record 27 Gold (23 boys, 4 girls).
By the time of the break with the CCF in 1982, when the CCF became entirely voluntary for
the first time since its foundation at Oakham in 1910, 807 awards had been gained – 368
Bronze, 264 Silver, and 175 Gold in the period 1960-82. While DofE at Oakham was part of
CCF, only those who were members of the CCF could participate in DofE, and CCF was
compulsory only for boys, and since few girls joined CCF, then few girls before 1982 were
able to participate in DofE. Once DofE went independent, with membership a voluntary
choice between CCF, DofE and Voluntary Service, then many more girls participated in
DofE activities.
In the three decades since then the numbers have risen dramatically, now to over 5000.
However, more Oakhamians than listed have gained awards, for after 1982 for a considerable
period CCF operated The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through the national CCF
organisation, and not Oakham School, as the Operating Authority; this means that their
names were listed under the national CCF organisation and not Oakham School. Our lists
contain only those who came under the authority of Oakham School as the Operating
Authority.
34
Bronze Training in the Peak District in Spring 1976
35
(Above) Bronze group in the Peak in spring 1976,
and (below) coming across war-time air crash remains on Kinder Scout
36
BN – Award Officer and Supervisor 1976-1998
37
Headmaster John Buchanan
was of the opinion that for
intensity of experience the
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Scheme must also rank
extremely high. My own
education at Stowe in the
1930s, when surprisingly for
those days I had been
allowed the option of
camping with the Scouts
rather than route-marching
with the Corps, had opened
my eyes to the value of
Outward Bound endeavour,
a discovery which Kurt
Hahn
so
effectively
exploited at Gordonstoun.
As a result, I needed no
prompting
to
give
wholehearted support to all
Duke of Edinburgh Award
activity, either within or
without the CCF, since it
seemed to me to carry on
beneficially from where
scouting left off and was
also blessedly free from the
jingoistic element imparted
to that movement by its
founder.
He wrote in The Oakhamian after a visit of inspection to the activities taking place in
Lochinver in the North-West Highlands in Spring 1976 vacation: When in future years any D
of E candidate comes to ponder his Oakham education he will surely remember before all
else not the terms and years at Oakham itself but the intensive expedition experience of
walking the hill at Lochinver. The loneliness, the austerity, the harshness of the early spring
climate on the mountains, the penetrating wet, the fearsome winds, those will remain with
him forever and will be accounted, perhaps, the supreme educational experience of his
schooldays. For the challenge of this sort of endeavour will have taught him more about
himself than possibly he thought there was ever to be learnt. Before Lochinver, an Oakham
boy; after Lochinver, an Oakhamian.
38
The Headmaster meets a group during Lochinver 76 on one of the routes below
39
Groups training in the Peak District in autumn 1976 and spring 1977
40
The 1977 Lochinver week witnessed three gold award expeditions and three silver
expeditions, and had a supervisory team of nine adults, along with seven Seventh Formers.
Extracts from logs included:
For the first hour there was very little said by the members of the group; we had no breath on the
steep climb, and were more than a little anxious about the days ahead. … As we trudged on we saw a
dead deer lying in the hollows (how long would it be before we were to be in a like condition?) so we
stopped to try and remove the antlers. The animal had only recently died and the skin was still in
place on its head. It smelled revolting! We ended up smashing the skull with stones. … We walked in
full waterproofs as the rain came down in buckets. … We then had our first large river crossing and
had to make our way to the next path which was over well-cut
peat bog. This would have been alright if we had found it, but
for some reason it wasn’t where is should have been
according to the map. … The river was quite shallow, only
about knee height but about twenty yards wide, so it was a
quick dash so as to try to keep as dry as possible. Gaiters
were very useful and they kept a good amount of the water
out, but as Peter had forgotten to do his zips up he got wetter
than the rest of us. .... The stream was greatly swollen and
could not be jumped across. Mike found a place where he
managed to cross without getting wet. I then went. I fell in. I
was soaked and really mad, but managed to control my inner
feelings and so restricted myself to just a few four-letter
words. … Chimp managed to let all the maps drop into the
water, and the rest of us have never moved so fast in our lives
in order to retrieve them. …. We had to break camp in very cold strong wind with driving rain and
hail. Speaking personally, my hands and feet were frozen and I think that getting started and walking
the first hour were the worst, both physically and mentally. … We spent most of the night praying for
a clear morning, resulting in a slightly less than adequate night’s sleep. … About 4 am it started
raining; then I woke up again at 6 am; it was still raining, so I woke everybody up and we got up. …
His blisters were giving him some trouble, and I think he was just about done in. ….. The morning
was terrible: it was hailing, sleeting, snowing, and very windy. … Then suddenly we were out of the
snow and walking in sunshine for the first time; what a different place, it is really quite nice! … We
set out on the path, which really was not a path but a mountain stream. … I don’t know where we got
the energy from, since we were nearly falling asleep walking. … All we had to do now was follow this
path for miles and miles. … At the top of a horrible climb we reached snow, coming straight up the
valley. Great! We looked like Captain Scott’s party crossing the South Pole. … We took a new
bearing which led us up a horrible hill; God, we just realised how knackered we were! … By the time
we reached campsite I was whacked. There was coffee waiting for us. This was needed very badly by
me, if no-one else, for the last stretch had taken about all there was to be taken out of me. …. Having
not been up to Lochinver before, I did not know what I was letting myself in for. Any sane person
would have stayed at home!
[The Oakhamian, Spring and Summer Terms 1977: in the photo Tony Morley is on the far left, then Paul
Churchouse in the balaclava and Nick Drabble is crossing the river, the other person is unidentified (Jonathan
Walker and Stephen Frost were the other two members of the group); unseen and holding the rope on the near
bank was MBR.]
41
Tough weather in Lochinver 1977 (above) but fine weather in 1979 (below)
42
Silver Group (above) and Gold Group (below) in Lochinver 1977,
both on the Glen Leirag pass beneath Quinag
(left to right) E. Michael Thompson, Robin Thompson, Simon Staton, Arthur Chapman, William Phillips
43
(Above) The unrelated Thompsons (EM on left, RU on right) en route to the “Behind Ben More”
Campsite (below) in Lochinver 77 on Gold
44
The loneliness of the Assessor in the wilds of Assynt – but at least there must be a second person
on the camera – (above) John Holmes photographed by Keith McGibbon,
but (below) both assessor and photographer unknown
45
The Supervisor (above on the right) keeping an eye on his Assessing Team who are out there somewhere
(below); their safety was as much a worry to him as the safety of the groups!
46
A Gold group comes and goes past the Supervisor in tough conditions during Lochinver 77
47
(Above) A Silver group passing Suileag bothy during Lochinver 77 while
(below) another one is supervised across a river by its assessor in the same year
48
49
Tony Morley and unidentified companion on Gold during Lochinver 1977
A Wharflands Bronze group (below, left to right, Matthew Day, Duncan Kingham, Mark Rollinson)
practises camping in rural Rutland in summer 1977, amid inquisitive interlopers
50
Silver Training in the Peak District in Autumn 1977
51
(Above) A Silver Group – Mark Rollinson, Duncan Kingham, Matthew Day, and one
other - on the Glenleireag Pass in Lochinver 78 and (below) discussing the day with
assessor PCW
52
(Above) A Gold group (Ted Bird and Meyrick Chapman first and second on the left
with three others) marches triumphantly in at Ricarn having completed its expedition
during Lochinver 78 and (below) a group with assessors on Suilven during the reserve
day planned into the trip
53
(Above) MBR briefs the troops during training in the Peak District (below) in autumn 1978
54
(Above) A new venue for SWE Winter Term 79, the Berwyn Hills and (below) camping in the snow
55
Good and bad visibility on the Berwyn Ridge
56
(Above) Tough going, yet again – Lochinver 79 – but (below) it’s all the same for RBS
and his army landrover
57
Lochinver ’80 – (above) Gold on the move and (below) at rest
58
Lochinver Gold Groups on the march (above) and (below) at lunch – Katsumi Miki far left - in 1981
59
Global Warming at Lochinver 81 (above) and river crossing (below)
60
In the summer term 1978 The Oakhamian reported that there were 11 gold medallists in
residence, nineteen with silver, and thirty-seven with bronze. The academic year 1977-78
brought 45 bronze, 30 silver, and 15 gold, and a higher haul was forecast for 1978-79, for
over 20 boys had just completed successful gold expeditions at Lochinver, where there had
been five gold groups and six silver groups. In summer 1980 it was not that a boy, or even a
girl, had become the 100th gold award holder at the school, but such was the lack of
information about those early years 1960-75 no-one could be quite certain who it was; in fact,
later research indicates that this goal was achieved sometime in 1979, for there were at least
107 gold award holders by the end of that year. The 1000th award was gained sometime in the
Quatercentenary year of 1984, but no-one knew it at the time! In 1982 there were 20 gold
awards, 32 silver and 27 bronze, with 120 boys and 70 girls participating. Once more it was
recorded that a milestone had been passed, with 150 golds achieved sometime in 1983, and it
was confidently expected that 1984 would bring the 200th Gold, the 250th Silver, and the 350th
Bronze; in fact, 1984 witnessed the 500th Bronze, the 345th Silver, and the 240th Gold, a grand
total of 1085 awards. Annual gold awards steadily increased up to the target of fifty a year –
7 in 1978, 20 in 1979, 21 in 1980, 27 in 1981, 30 in 1982, 32 in 1983, and 33 in 1984 during
the Richard Bull years as headmaster. He had shown his support for DofE activities by taking
a cottage in Lochinver at the time of the spring expeditions in 1979 and visiting groups in the
fields; Second Master Ronnie Henton paid a like visit.
Gold Holders in 1982
(Back Row) Michael Watchorn, Anthony Goodger, Simon England, Stephen Wilson, Charles Nelstrop
(Middle Row) Guy Malpas, Oliver Close, William Paton, Rosalyn Sands, David Anderson, Nigel
Sardeson, Christopher Beer (Sitting) Geoffrey Wright, Francis Powell, John Sheffield, David Price
61
These growing numbers placed a strain on both staff and capital resources, but the Scheme
was supported financially still by the Ministry of Defence through the CCF and by CCF
officers.
Lt. M.B.Rochester, i/c the boys’ Bronze Section / CCF Arduous Training, teaches Tom Heap (now BBC
Environmental Correspondent) how to abseil (above), and (below) a Bronze group marching on its
stomach in Wales (from left to right, Simon Leeds, Paul Clegg, Simon Derry, Matthew Hannah’s hat, and
Tom Heap testing the food)
62
Another ploy used to staff the Scheme was to use Gold Award holders to instruct and
supervise in the bronze sections; it proved amazingly easy to persuade macho Seventh Form
boys to instruct the girls’ sections!
Jon Green and Chris Done helping with the girls’ DofE
63
Photos taken by Captain Patrick Wilson of Bronze (or perhaps Silver) participants in
1979
64
Photos taken by Captain Patrick Wilson of Bronze (or perhaps Silver) participants in 1979;
CCF compo rations still being used!
65
66
67
Lochinver 83 – (above) Gold on the march (Andrew Annett on the left and Giles
Houston on the right, and (below) PCW supervises the evacuation of a successful Silver
group (Paul Clegg and Matthew Hannah at the front)
68
In 1982 the CCF had become voluntary at the time of the retirement from command of Lt.
Col. Michael Stevens after ten years in that position, recruiting entry from fourth formers in
competition with the now entirely independent Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Community
Service, Lifesaving, and Estate Management.
21 Gold Holders in 1983
28 Gold Holders in 1984
69
(Above) A Bronze Group receiving advice from external assessor Graham Derrick on
the first Bronze Qualifying Expedition to the Lakes, at Exeat 1983; sitting to the right
are William Burgess and Alasdair England, and (below) training in the North York
Moors in Spring sunshine 1984
70
Lochinver 84 with (above) a Gold group having lunch, containing Michael Swallow on second left, Miles
Linney second right in the background, and Charles Calvert on the far right; during the royal visit that
autumn, Miles escorted HM The Queen and Charles escorted HRH The Duke of Edinburgh; (below) a
Silver group on the march
71
(Above) On top of Canisp during Lochinver 84 and (below) Bronze in the Lakes in 84
72
Bronze groups in the Lakes in 84
73
In 1984 the school celebrated its Quatercentenary, and was honoured by a visit from H.M.
The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh; the latter spent time meeting the DofE staff
and as many participants as he could in the time available; then he planted a memorial tree,
which flourishes to this day, in front of the IT Centre / Economics Building at the back of the
picture.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh meets Award participants in 1984, accompanied by the Award Officer BN
(with Second Master Michael Stevens in the background and The Visitor John Jerwood in the
foreground); the only immediately recognisable boy is Matthew Yates, just to the right of the video
cameraman in the photograph
74
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh meets the Award Officer, Brian Needham, in 1984; also in the picture is
Tim Gunn, who ran, first, the girls’ walking section and then the co-educational canoeing section of the
Award at Oakham, and the two boys – Michael Swallow on the left and Charles Calvert in the
background – were both Gold Award holders.
During the inter-regnum period between two headmasters, Acting Headmaster Michael
Stevens paid a visit to Lochinver. As Officer i/c the Army Section 1959-72 (and he must have
been involved with the decision to commence Duke of Edinburgh Award activities in 1960)
and as Contingent Commander 1972-82 Lt.Col. Stevens had supported Arduous Training /
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award strongly, and it was not his initiative that caused the split
between the two in 1982. Perhaps his only complaint in those days was the time it took to
produce the many travel warrants for train journeys to and from Inverness!
Of his visit to Lochinver in 1985, (left),
he reported that in the Easter holidays my
wife Mary and I spent some enjoyable
days with the boys' Duke of Edinburgh
Gold and Silver Award expeditioners in
Lochinver, Sutherland, northern Scotland,
where, in quite arduous conditions, they
carried out their expeditions under the
experienced and highly professional eye
of the Supervisor Brian Needham,
supported by a keen group of members of
staff (Patrick Wilson, Brian Welford,
Mark Pitter) together with a large regular
band of Old Oakhamian ex-awarders as
Assessors. A great sense of camaraderie
was engendered such that for many an Old Oakhamian the name of Lochinver figures high
on his school memories.
75
Lochinver 85: (above) Mark Pitter, who helped with Bronze Walking for many a year, checking on what
happens with Silver and Gold; (below) Richard Archer tries to get going after a cold night
76
A major initiative in 1985 came when the girls’ section, up until then run as a walking
activity for expeditions under the organisation of Tim Gunn, decided (with the Award
Officer’s support) to offer both canoeing (run by Tim Gunn) and cycling (run by Jane
Matthews and Robert Bagur) as alternative means of expedition transport: it was hoped that
such a choice would enable girls to acquire a skill that they were interested in, and at the
same time offer an alternative to carrying a heavy rucksack for the less well-built girl, wrote
Tim Gunn.
He continued: The cyclists have found that riding a bike fully laden with camping equipment
is a very different proposition from normal cycling. In fact they take almost the same kit as
the walkers. Girls have had to learn to mend punctures and maintain their bicycles. Some
problems have arisen in keeping groups together, particularly when the less fit girls insist on
walking up the slightest hill! In summer the cyclists pedalled to Skye and then back across
Scotland to Inverness.
Cycle training runs on Loch Affric in 1985
77
Cyclists in Camp, Scotland 1985 – Tracy Part, Megan Brown, Melanie Thew and Jenny Booth at Cannich
Then he commented on the canoeists: the canoeists have found that the weather does not
really make too much difference to them as they tend to get wet anyway! … This year the
canoeists’ annual camp was in the Outer Hebrides and involved paddling on loch and the
sea. Both canoeists and cyclists have enjoyed their new modes of transport, but it has to be
said that (as ever) fitness is a problem.
Charlotte Eckhardt finds the canoeing tough work when on land
78
The next headmaster Graham Smallbone strongly supported the use of the outdoors for
educational purposes, a brave stance given the inherent danger of such activities and the
increasing risk-aversion of educationalists at the time. In particular, this was shown by his
(and his wife’s) frequent visits to Lochinver (1985 below) in north-west Scotland during the
Easter holidays to support the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions, Graham with
encouraging exhortations but Dorothea with much more practical chocolate bars.
He remembers those excursions and why he supported them: Our visits up north to Lochinver
we must place as among the highlights, particularly the opportunity to see students entirely in
a different environment. As for risk, well risk is part and parcel of life, and I never had
parents interrogating me about the
level of risk involved. Of course, in
bad weather those activities did
worry me at times, but is vital to
the sort of school that we want to
run that we do not remove all risk
from the students, otherwise they
will never learn to stand on their
own feet and look after themselves.
We know that they will take the
wrong decisions at times and place
themselves in some degree of peril;
training and good supervision gets
them out of that. Not to do it, which has happened in some places, is a disaster. The Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award, particularly as run and practised at Oakham, is a fine programme, and
the school’s success was really highlighted by that occasion a couple of years after I left
when the School had gained its 1000th Gold Award and Prince Philip himself came to the
school to help us celebrate.
79
North York Moors in Spring 1985
80
Bronze on Qualifying Expedition in the Lakes in Summer Term Exeat 85
81
The Yorkshire Dales (above) was a new area for Gold Training in Spring 86
and the Brecon Beacons (below) in Autumn 86
82
Lochinver 86: Gold (above) and Silver (below)
83
Bronze in the Lakes in Summer Exeat 86
84
Assessors – Alasdair Thorpe (above) and Graham Derrick (below) - meet their Bronze
groups en route during Lakes 86
85
In the summer of 1986 the silver and gold cycle expeditions took place in Brittany, under the
guidance of Robert Bagur – and with the expedition logs written in French! In the same
summer a girls’ silver canoeing group completed its expedition in Scandinavia, as part of a
more extensive kayak expedition led by Tim Gunn, on an unescorted but remotely supervised
paddle on days 13-15 of the four week expedition. The boy walkers were not to be outdone
by this foreign visiting, and bronze and silver expeditions were accomplished during an
expedition to Iceland in 1988; the silver expedition was in fact a four day circumnavigation
of Snaefell, Iceland’s second highest mountain (which had been climbed, of course, as part of
the expedition programme).
The 1988 summer expedition to Iceland (run by Julian Jones and Brian Needham)
involved many DofE participants, of course, and some of them completed their Bronze
and Silver expeditions as part of the expedition programme; all silver and gold
candidates had been to Lochinver already that year, and the Bronze had been in the
Lake District, but as ever there had been absentees through illness or injury, and the
Iceland expedition included some CCF DofE participants who had yet to undertake
their qualifying expeditions; above, the climbing of Snaefell in Iceland (not part of the
DofE expeditions)
86
Under the direction of Steve
Burrows, groups of gold and silver
candidates found themselves engaged
in a long-term project for their
Service activity in the mid-1980s1990s, coppicing and other woodland
management tasks (clearing ponds
and ditches, cutting paths, raking
hay, establishing reed beds) at
Rutland Water as the Nature Reserve
got under way.
87
Lochinver 1989 was a tough one, especially since BN was away in Australia on a term’s
sabbatical. PCW (Patrick Wilson) wrote: A Lochinver without BN! Could this be feasible?
Would it be possible for ordinary mortals to supervise and bring to a successful conclusion
the immense annual operation involved in transporting, assessing and preserving seventy
Oakhamians in the remote fastness of Sutherland? But BN, though absent, influenced.
Encouraged by cryptic but cheerful postcards from Australia, his deputies implemented the
plans already drawn up by the Master before he left for the southern hemisphere. [The
Oakhamian May 1989] The “deputies” that year were PCW, Julian Jones, Brian Welford,
Mark Pitter and Greg Andrews, assisted by a dozen Old Oakhamians (Alasdair England, Nick
Hall, Simon Millhouse, Anthony Morley, Mike Thompson, Jonathan Case, Phil Neild,
Marcus Welford, David Anderson, Andrew Watkin, Phil Strawson, and Tim Young) and
other friends (parent Roger Picton and his lecturing colleague Maurice Leyland). But the
weather was the worst we had had in Lochinver for several years. The Ben More route was
particularly hazardous, with very wet or snowy conditions which made the passage of at least
one group very slow; it took nearly nine hours to cover a distance that in normal conditions
might take about half this time. Very strong winds added to the problems and one group lost
one of its tents during the night. The poles were smashed up under the force of the gale and
the tent’s two occupants had to spend the rest of a most uncomfortable night squashed with
the other two members of the group in the other tent. Although the weather improved for the
second week, most groups started their expeditions in very wet conditions, with the going
underfoot wholly waterlogged and as slippery and sodden as can be remembered over the
past two decades. This gave rise to problems of a different sort when it became necessary for
groups to make river crossings, and indeed some groups had to be re-routed for reasons of
safety. … The feeling of those in charge this year was that the boys contended very well with
the challenges they faced. They were a good bunch of expeditioners and they achieved worthy
results on their expeditions. Lochinver 1989 was an enjoyable as well as a satisfying
experience overall. We managed well without BN but we shall be glad to have him back next
year!
During this headmastership the Award at Oakham continued to grow, boys and girls, walking
and cycling and canoeing and even horse-riding. It was noted in various editions of The
Oakhamian that forty-nine gold awards were gained, and that there were 30 Old Oakhamians
at a St. James’ Palace Gold Reception in 1986; that BN signed his 400th Gold Award form in
1989 (when there were 52 gold awards gained in the year); that in 1993 he signed his 1000th
Bronze, 750th Silver, and 500th Gold certificates; that there were 50 gold holders resident by
the end of the summer term in 1990, but it was not until the Summer Term of 1994 that a
landmark number of 50 gold award holders appeared in the annual summer photograph of
successful participants. Moreover, total awards were now at around 200 a year – 231 in 1992,
209 in 1993, 200 in 1995, 197 in 1996, and 228 in 1998. Sixteen Oakhamians were at St.
James’ Palace in July 1993, and a further 27 lucky enough to attend a Garden Party at
Buckingham Palace just a week later.
88
1990 Gold Holders – Summer Exeat, and by the end of the term there were 50 gold holders in the school
In 1988 BN initiated the Basic Expedition Training Award (as then known, now it is BELA)
for both staff and gold candidates, and this course ran annually for well over a decade with,
first, BN as Course Director and then Mark Durose. Innumerable First Aid Courses were run
by the British Red Cross (and in particular by Mrs. Doreen Smith and Mr. John Walker), and
Dave “Chalky” White took many candidates through Lifesaving at Award of Merit and
Bronze Medallion levels.
By 1990 there were more girls participating in the scheme than boys at Oakham (169 girls
compared to 144 boys in September 1990), but completion rate was highly in favour of the
boys (one gold to none, thirty-one silver to fourteen, and fifty-nine bronze to forty-seven
were in residence at the beginning of the academic year in September 1990). By the end of
this headmastership, over three thousand awards (3069 to the end of the year) had been
gained since the school commenced the award – 1230 at bronze, 999 at silver, and 840 at
gold.
1994 Summer Term Gold Holders – all 52 of them!
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Exchange teacher (from New Zealand) David Ruddle assisting with Bronze training in The Lakes – Owen
Hughes far right, Stuart Gilliver fourth right
In April 1992 the school suffered an enormous loss with the death from a heart attack of Dr.
Peter Tyler, who had been running the girls’ walking section for the previous seven years.
This sadness was compounded by the death at Kimbolton School, once more from a heart
attack, of Hugh Hunter, who had run DofE at Oakham from 1969-75.
A Girls’ Gold Group
in 1992
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For the next two years the boys’ and girls’ walking sections amalgamated under the direction
of BN until Jane Matthews took over the girls’ walking section. He even took the girls’ gold
walkers up to Lochinver, much to the headmaster’s horror and fear, but all six groups
survived the experience …. and return there to this day.
Around this time Peter Gray was running the Bronze cyclists, Steve Burrows and Andy
Clennett were running the silver and gold cyclists, Alan Riddy had taken control of the boys’
bronze walkers, Alick Brown had started his many years of running the girls’ bronze walkers
(after an apprenticeship with the boys’ bronze walkers under Mark Durose) …. and Tim
Gunn was still trying to drown canoeists in Scotland or further afield with the help of Peter
Chamen.
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Canoeing in Skye in 1994
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Then came horseriding! Three girls (Emma Hodson, Louisa Firmin and Rachel Bates,
supervised by Mrs. Alexandra Pyper) were keen to try horse riding as an expedition mode of
transport, and accomplished both bronze and then silver expeditions in 1996 and 1997. Let it
be said that these took more organisation that all the rest of the expeditions put together, and
were more frustrating, for if it were not the girls being saddle-sore it would be the horses
throwing a shoe.
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In his Guest of Honour Speech at Speech Day in 1997, former headmaster John Buchanan
voiced his continuing support for the Scheme: As a statistical guide to a school’s academic
results, what I term ‘Three A Levels full stop’, the tables have a considerable value and
Oakham appears to be achieving a respectable rating which compares quite favourably with
immediate competitors. The tables do not measure of course, nor pretend to do so, the value
added element of an Oakham
education, the life-enhancing realms
of music, the visual and creative arts,
drama
and
the
wide-ranging
opportunities for physical and athletic
recreation. Above all, in Oakham’s
case, they do not measure an area of
life-enhancement which could be
termed Oakham’s ‘specialite de la
maison’, an area of activity which
began in a small way in my day but
which I have watched with growing
admiration as it has gathered
momentum ever since. I refer, of
course, to The Duke of Edinburgh’s
Award. The simple figures tell an
astonishing story. Over the past
twenty years Oakhamians have
gained 814 Gold Awards, 994 Silver,
and 1253 Bronze, a grand total of
over 3000 awards, averaging around
150 a year and now running at some
50 Gold Awards a year. These are
staggering statistics which put
Oakham at the head of any league
table in this or any other country, a
sort of Tiger Woods domination. At
any one time over half the school is
embarked on the scheme, involving, amongst much else, adventure training both in term time
and holidays in the Brecon Beacons, the Peak District, Snowdonia, the Lake District, and
Lochinver. But the expedition and adventure training are only part of the story. In many
ways the service element of the scheme is even more important, involving as it does sustained
practical service to the community for a minimum of sixty hours, in the case of a Gold Award,
spread over a minimum of twelve months, a very serious commitment. The service covers a
wide range of activity, working with children in need, for example, or caring for the elderly,
or the blind, assisting the police or fire services … the possibilities are endless. The essential
philosophy of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is twofold: first, for young people to acquire
self-reliance, and second, equally important, to acquire a sense of responsibility to others,
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good citizenship in fact. Much education in schools is, perhaps, geared too much to rivalry
and competition; the Award Scheme is a healthy antidote to this in that anyone engaged in it
is competing only with him or herself, and any success gained is not at the expense of
someone else’s comparative failure. For an Oakhamian, in particular, enjoying a privileged
education remote from a deprived background of poverty or distress, the service element of
the Award will probably constitute his or her first introduction in life to a ‘world elsewhere’,
and this is true education. In support of this vast enterprise, Brian Needham has assembled
over the years a formidable team of assessors and administrators. .. In addition, and this is a
truly remarkable aspect of it all, Brian has on his books no fewer than 120 Old Oakhamians
[such as Keith McGibbon, left] available, on call, to help with expedition and assessment
work; here are men and women fully involved in their own careers willing, on an entirely
honorary basis, to set aside precious holiday time to return to their old school in order to
help the next generation – some of them have been returning for twenty years in this way on a
regular basis. ‘The involvement and dedication of adults is absolutely critical to the Scheme’s
success’, wrote the Duke himself, and Brian admits that this Old Oakhamian support is vital
to the whole undertaking. The justification for all this adult effort must lie with the deep
educational experience the Award affords to each and every participant, and I suspect that
there is no award holder who, eventually, as an Old Oakhamian, will not look back on
aspects of his or her Duke of Edinburgh Award experience as some of the most significant
memories of their school life at Oakham. In summary, I applaud a school which both in
theory and practice sets this Award at the heart of its education. …. Quasi Cursores.
Boys’ Silver Walking on the North York Moors in 1997, receiving instruction from an
Old Oakhamian Gold Holder; Hugh Paton (with hat) and Justin Boughey (facing with
map)
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Tim Gunn’s departure from Oakham at the end of 1996 meant that fairly soon canoeing
disappeared as an expedition option, since there was no-one on the staff of sufficient
expertise, or perhaps foolhardiness, to instruct and supervise this form of expedition
transport.
In 1998 Brian Needham retired from Oakham and went out to teach in Africa (where, of
course, he resurrected the Malawi President’s Award, based on the UK Duke of Edinburgh’s
Award and part of the family of the International Youth Award). By the end of 1998 there
were 1498 Bronze Awards, 1209 Silver Awards, and 932 Gold Awards since 1960, and a
total of 3407 (1377 Bronze, 1139 Silver and 891 Gold) in the twenty-two years period 197698.
This success depended on the immense work of the staff at the school, taking groups for an
afternoon on a weekly basis for instruction and encouraging them to complete all sections of
the Award; the same people were involved in Service Weekends twice a year and on
Qualifying Expeditions that occurred in the Spring vacations, the Summer Term Exeats, and
the Summer vacations. On these trips, much was owed to the voluntary support of Old
Oakhamians and friends of the school, exemplified (below) by parent Geoff Jarvis, a long
term instructor / assessor, and Old Oakhamian Duncan Kingham (bronze, silver and gold
holder and regular instructor / assessor in his university years).
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In September 1998 Mark Durose took over as Award Officer, to be followed by Terry Dixon
when Mark became housemaster of Sargants, and then by Steve Gorman on Terry’s
retirement.
That 1999 summer, the girls’ gold walking group were in Snowdonia, and Jodie Gray wrote
in her log: We tend to associate certain smells with certain places. The heavy, dark pungency
of black coffee and the cigarette smoke laden air of my uncle’s basement in Albany. The
delicacy of certain floral fragrance worn on a winter holiday in the Canary Islands. The
weighty odour of leaking meths which clings cloying to anything associated with DofE; which
hangs on the stuffy, over-used air incarcerated in a two-man tent. This invades one’s nostrils,
borne on waves emanating from piles of damp, dew-sodden grass, from the stubborn patch of
mould under the heel of my right foot, from the dirt-disguised boots outside. It’s 5 am on day
four of my DofE gold qualifying expedition in Snowdonia. The elasticity of the muscles down
the back of my legs is a distant memory. I’ve discovered an irritating dip under my left hip;
the zip of my arctic sleeping bag has left a horrifically ugly, bluey-red imprint which reaches
from my ear-lobe to my chin, and I’m hot. This sensation and DofE expeditions are noncompatible. Despite having survived the snow-drifts of a Mqrch in the Peak District, I am illprepared for this. I kick open my sleeping bag, unzip my thermal top, fold up my trousers –
all to no avail. I sit up. I blink. I am not dreaming, nor am I in a state of delirious delusion.
Its DofE. It’s Wales. It’s not raining and it’s hot. If my DofE gold qualifying expedition
taught me anything it was to expect the unexpected. If you are relying on your compass, then
it is a fair certainty that you are standing on one of the only big iron deposits in North Wales.
If you thought that sheep only ‘baa’ then you are bound to meet one with a Herculean roar
while relieving yourself in the dark of the night. If you think that you are all alone on a bleak
and deserted valley side, then your assessor is sure to be watching you Big Brother style
through a pair of binoculars from the opposite ridge. Rely on nothing and on nobody. That is,
unless they are members of your group. While it may sound clichéd, I am not afraid to write it
– I learnt much about team spirit from my expedition. There were times when I believed that
we would never finish – day three in the evening, when having failed to find two paths we
were forced to walk a couple of extra kilometres on the road into our campsite. As each foot
landed on the hard tarmac, a shudder of pain resonated up the leg, dispersed in the torso and
spread to the fingertips. On arrival at the campsite we collapsed like lemmings into a pile of
new-cut grass, sweat, tears and dirt. However, even at these low points there were always
those prepared to pick themselves up and lead from the front. Advice? When it’s 7 pm, you
have been walking since 9 am and were awoken at 4.30 am by the morning calls of an overexcited crow, then just keep in mind that first shower awaiting you in the youth hostel. To
stand under that cascade of clean water; to smell something other than sweat, grass and
meths; to have the knots in the muscles of your shoulders, back and legs smoothed away; to
feel your hair instead of a layer of grease and dirt make the ordeal of DofE Gold all worth it.
Of course, there is that feeling of utter triumph when, at the end, you throw your pack down
onto the roadside and sit on it, waiting for the mini-bus. At this point there is the urge to do
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something embarrassing like punching the air with a clenched fist yelling ‘Yes! Yes!’, or
worse, running round hugging your friends, wailing. However, our English reserve restrains
us. We merely mutter something along the lines of ‘Yes, we did it’.
Photos from the Jodie Gray Gold Log
As ever, there was a turn-over of staff as colleagues left the school and other joined it,
replacing then in the various sections. Pat Evans was one such, in charge of girls’ silver
walking, and she wrote in summer 2000 after the Lake District qualifying expedition:
Eight months’ training and two service weekend expeditions culminated in the qualifying
expedition for the 37 students working for their DofE silver award. Already they had
navigated the North York Moors, their skills had been tested and finely tuned in Haworth’s
Bronte Country, and they were ready for the thrills and spills of the Lake District. The seven
groups had already shown that they could meet the challenges in a very purposeful and
decisive manner. It was only when we approached the Lake District and the hills started to
get higher that cries of ‘we’re not climbing that, are we?’ came from the back of the bus.
Arrival at Eskdale Youth hostel was very welcome. We were hosted most warmly, despite this
being their first large party – they were new wardens – and us waking up to no power on
Monday morning. The Youth Hostel staff was keen that our stay should be a happy one, so
took to walking around in stocking feet after 1030 pm so as not to wake us up. Training day
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set the scene for the following three days. The weather was kind and the high winds and
dusting of snow merely served to enhance the already dramatic scenery and wonderful views.
The second day saw the first big climb but all the efforts were rewarded by the exhilaration of
the magnificent outlook from the tops and the satisfaction and sense of achievement of having
done it. Completion on the Wednesday was followed by a dash to the showers and a
celebratory meal in the Youth Hostel. The journey had seen many moments that students will
freeze in time and take with them – snowballing on Sty Head, swimming in Derwent Water,
trying to put tents up in howling winds, helping each other along the way. As the assessors
watched groups we saw grit and determination, patience, teamwork and lots of laughter. It
wasn’t just the walking – lots more went on along the way, from the collection of
photographic material of the movement of water and forms of mosses for art exam work to
the writing of poetry and the singing of songs. There were also a number of prize quotations
of the week: ‘so, which part of Yorkshire are we in, then?’. All will take their experiences on
into their Gold Award and should feel justifiably proud of their achievements. The assessors
in the team would like to pass on their heart-felt congratulations to all the students on
passing the expedition in such fine style.
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A decade or more later, Pat is still leading groups for silver expeditions into the Lake District,
but now not just girls, but mixed (although the actual walking groups at this age are still
mono-sex).
James Ferrow, undertaking the silver award, made it clear that the ethos of the DofE is to
challenge and reward participants and proved that by producing a list of all the activities
being undertaken by his silver compatriots, which included: boatwork, campanology, magic
tricks, darts, cactus growing, chicken husbandry, drama, sports coaching, computing, typing,
instrument playing, singing, poetry writing, ornithology, and reading.
In 2001, Vicky Bankes-Price wrote of her service
activity: I visited the hospital in Oakham weekly
from September 1999 to July 2000. I spent most of
my time visiting the residential ward. The patients
ranged from those who were long term and those
who were simply staying in the hospital for a few
nights in order to give their carers some respite.
Speaking to the patients really make me appreciate
the opportunities that I enjoy, having been born
into a very different generation to that of the
elderly patients. Their stories of ‘the good old
times’ made me appreciate how the world has
changed, for better and for worse, how our morals
may have become more ‘flexible’, but how our
minds have been broadened and opened by the
increased opportunities that we have experienced
as our country becomes more diverse and
multicultural. The terminally ill make you
appreciate life. Speaking to a 45 year old whose
condition is visibly deteriorating week by week is a
humbling experience that makes you appreciate
that you and those around you are not immortal.
Yes, it could be your mother or your brother lying
dying in that bed. Speaking with the elderly makes
you appreciate your youth. So many seem to be no
longer living but merely existing, as the physical
pain becomes too much and, for some, the
emptiness of living on without a loved one, with
whom many years have been shared, is visibly
unbearable. But talking to these people also brings
hope and a realisation that all the opportunities
that lie before us must be grasped, that we owe it
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to these people to live our lives to the full, and that it is up to us to make full use of the
opportunities that the work of generations, past and present, have provided for us.
Then in 2002 Tanya Ryopponen wrote about her Residential Project: We saw an advert at
school about the Trinity College placement and thought it would be a perfect opportunity to
put forward as our DofE Residential. This is a traditional holiday scheme which takes place
for two weeks every year. Voluntary leaders take deprived children from Peckham and
Camberwell around London and organise trips and games for them. The first day was a
training day; boring but useful. Then we met the children; some cocky and loud, others quiet
and shy. During the week we went ice-skating to the Aquarium and the London Eye, to see
films, did some art, and went bowling – all with the children in tow. Many hours were also
spent in the local park where the children played games and then questioned us about
everything. There were three or four leaders to around eleven children, all the same age, and
these were the groups you went around in. In the evening, when the children were happily left
with their parents, we planned the next day and then hit the streets of London. We slept in the
halls of the Centre and there was no curfew in the evenings after the planning for the next
day had taken place, so the nights were ….. interesting! The experience was really rewarding
and the children became your best friends. They were all really lovely – even those who ran
off when you were travelling on the Tube. There were no real rules in the evening and this is
when we had the best time. All the twenty-five or so volunteers were around our age, mostly
doing it for UCAS forms or for DofE, and everyone was really friendly and good fun. All
three of us were apprehensive, but we are going to do it next year because we had such a
good time.
A perhaps more exotic Residential Project was undertaken in 2002 by Sarah Moss and Sophie
Latham, and Sophie wrote: Duke of Edinburgh – three simple enough words but with the
power to strike fear into the hearts of most of my Gold group. However, as I jetted off to the
Canaries just before Christmas,
leaving the rain and grey behind
and equipped with little more than
shorts and a few T-shirts, I felt
none of it. Having dragged Sarah
with me, the two of us were hoping
desperately for the chance to
lounge about in the Spanish sun on
deck with a crew of strong and
handsome sailors attending to our
every whim. We knew, however,
that this was a wishful thought and
that it was more likely that the two
of us would return looking like a
pair of muscled sailors ourselves.
As part of our DofE, Sarah and I
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had chosen to spend the week sailing around the Canary Islands as part of a mixed ability
crew with the Jubilee Sailing Trust, a wonderful charity which gives both physically disabled
and able-bodied people the chance to work as a team and sail a Tall Ship at sea. We started
off in Tenerife and met the rest of the crew. Everyone was really outgoing and easy to get to
know and we were soon shown the ropes – literally. We set sail in the direction of Fuerta
Ventura in Lanzarote and became accustomed to sitting up from midnight to 0400 hrs to
watch out for rogue ships threatening to cross our path. Sarah and I, being the youngest and
probably most active on the ship, were often sent up the rigging, which we took to
immediately, and spent much of the week out on a limb above the sea tying up sails – no
mean feat.
Upon arrival at Lanzarote we staggered onshore, able to feel
the floor swaying under us, which wasn’t surprising as we were
first taken for a camel ride and later on a tour around the most
incredible volcanic landscape. We were shown the sailors’ way
of entertainement during rather rowdy evenings on land, but
back on the sea we amused ourselves with tales from some of
the other crew members. We met some great characters during
our week and came away with a better understanding of the
disabilities faced by people and a great respect for the perfectly
normal lives some people had built for themselves against all the odds. A voyage with the JST
cannot only be used as a Residential Project for DofE Gold, but it is also an unforgettable
experience and a memory to treasure.
On completing her Gold walking expedition in Snowdonia in summer 2000 (left) Dilukshi
Leanage had to say: This will be the most
mentally and physically challenging thing that
you ever do! Those words never really
registered until we began our qualifying
expedition for the DofE gold award. …
Determination, at the end of the day, was the key
to success. The journey was not easy but it
actually brought us closer together. We can
confidently say that Lucie (Scott), Sarah
(Grimmer) Vicky (Bankes-Price), Sarah (Dixon)
and I all became better friends simply because
of our common efforts, hardships and goal. We
had more blisters than any of us care to
remember but, having spent four days together,
we actually began to realise that all the blood,
sweat and tears, combined with laughter and
moments of hilarity, were worth it, and we all felt a sense of achievement when we arrived at
the Snowdon Ranger Youth Hostel.
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The Gold and Silver cycling expeditions broke new ground in 2000 by undertaking a coastto-coast venture, from St. Bees through to Robin Hood’s Bay, taking in the mammoth passes
of Hardknott and Wrynose, as well as passing through the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales,
and the North York Moors.
In 2000, therefore, the School could boast of at least 1000 Gold Awards, well over 1250
Silver Awards, and enormously over 1500 Bronze Awards. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
at Oakham celebrated its 1000th Gold Award in 2000, and so became the first single
institution in the world to reach that mark. His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh
himself came to the school in November 2000 to present the award to Selina Conboy, thought
(inaccurately, because of the incomplete list of gold holders 1960-75) to be the 1000th
recipient, in front of an invited audience in the Smallbone Library of 250 past and present
award holders and participants along with many instructors past and present; on his departure
he had time to speak to some of the 300 present participants at the school gathered outside the
Library.
103
104
The Patron HRH The Duke of Edinburgh meets (above) Mark Durose, the Award Officer, and (below)
Brian Needham, the previous Award Officer, in 2000; above from left to right are the Award Director
Vice-Admiral Michael Gretton CB, the Headmaster Tony Little, The Patron, The Chairman of Trustees
Tom White, Mark Durose, Brian Needham, and OO Graham Hoyland, who climbed Everest in 1993;
below on the far left is the then Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, Air Chief Marshal Sir Thomas Lawrie
Kennedy GCB
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HRH The Duke of Edinburgh speaks to supportive Headmasters J.D.Buchanan and G.Smallbone,
before moving on next to talk to equally supportive Acting Headmaster M.Stevens
Selina Conroy (left), regarded as but actually not the 1000th Gold Award achiever, and Tony Barber
(right), the first Oakham Gold Award winner
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HRH The Duke of Edinburgh speaking to Gold Award holders and DofE instructors (above)
and present participants in 2000 (below)
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HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, accompanied by Headmaster Tony Little, meets one-time Award Officer
Brian Needham, with the Award Officer Mark Durose on Brian’s right and Old Oakhamian Everest
climber (but not DofE participant) Graham Hoyland on his left
Tony Little was yet another headmaster to make the journey north to Lochinver, although his
stay was a very brief one. By the time of his departure in 2002, award numbers had risen to
4023 Awards - 1621 Bronze, 1331 Silver and 1071 Gold.
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The running of Lochinver
was now much the province
of Mike Rochester (MBR),
and he welcomed the new
headmaster, Joe Spence
(left), for a fleeting (and
almost disastrous) visit in
2003. Although the girls’
groups were soon to be a
regular part of the trip,
Lochinver had become a
gold-only stamping ground,
with the silver groups
running their qualifying
expeditions in the Lake
District.
MBR wrote in 2003: Our traditional trip to the Assynt region
of Sutherland in the extreme north-west of Scotland continued
the tradition of Boys’ Gold qualifying in a truly wild area
which properly fulfils the ethos of the Award. The great joy of
the area is that routes can be planned through some of the
least populated but most beautiful landscapes in the UK, but
without having at any stage to go high over ridges. …. The
class of 2003 was a small (three groups, sixteen boys), select,
but determined crew, notable for their thoughtful preparation,
their willingness to get moving early, to press on hard, to eat
heartily, and to be able to keep this up for four days over
eighty kilometres. It was a truly impressive performance and
it was good to see them growing in strength on days three and
four after the physical low that tends to accompany the end of
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day two. The weather conditions were typically Scottish west coast, with much low cloud,
some strong wind, and enough rain to ensure thast waterproofs stayed on most of the time.
Sadly the mountains only occasionally emerged from the lowering cloud, so the boys were
unable to enjoy the full panorama of the Wester Ross mountains known to so many of the
predecessors. The Headmaster dropped in briefly, having had a problematic journey north
owing to flight cancellations. He was whizzed out to a campsite before breakfast the next day
to witness Group 1 blinking myopically as they emerged into the grey dawn. We waved him
off after his visit with thanks for making the considerable effort to come all that way in trying
circumstasnces, blissfully unaware that it was just about to get worse. Pottering gently
southwards the wheels of his hired Fiat Uno lost traction on the tarmac, the car went through
a fence and down a fifteen foot embankment, startling both the Headmaster and a small flock
of speciality sheep. The Headmaster was lucky to be able to walk away; the Fiat was not so
fortunate and suffered terminal damage.
It is noteworthy that Lochinver 2003 was staffed by two members of staff (Mike Rochester
and Peter McKean), four Old Oakhamians (Tim Davies, David Garner, Ian Pike, and Phil
Wilson), and one longterm friend of the school (Brian White),
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Adam Edmond wrote of his gold
expedition in 2004: We can remember
on countless occasions being told to
prepare for snow and hail, wind and
rain, but never sun. Laden down with
bulky waterproofs which we only need
for about 20 minutes, we walked on
through four glorious days of sunshine
and high temperatures, not the best
thing you could wish for when you and
your group are walking about 20 km a day. Obviously, being prepared for the worst, none of
us, surprisingly, had thought to pack any sun cream or hats, except warm woolly ones, so
after walking alongside some magnificent lochs we ended up looking like tomatoes and had
headaches. Sunburn is the last thing we would expect, and as we will now doubt be reminded,
we should have been prepared for the unexpected. Despite the wonderful weather (without
which our group probably would not have completed the journey through Scottish
wilderness), it was still rather wet underfoot and after about the fifth time sinking up to your
knees in green slimy plants, you got to quite enjoy the feeling of missing the ground when
your foot just kept going down. No-one, though, got as stuck as Luke Taylor, who when
walking merrily along the track found that one area was composed of sinking sand, and
abruptly sank. We waited until all of the group had arrived so we could have a good laugh at
him before all of us pulled him free, only to find that he had left his walking pole in there so
he had to climb back in! Unsurprisingly, Luke didn’t lead the group again on that particular
path. I am sure that everyone who was on that expedition will agree that the scenery we saw
was some of the most beautiful in the UK; the sunsets were remarkable, especially if you
were lucky enough to catch one over one of the lochs. We were up most days nearly early
enough to see the sunrise; these for some reason seemed less impressive at 6 am while you
were wandering around aimlessly waiting for the Trangia to boil. Four days of arduous
walking, navigating and camping, in wilderness landscape, was a large enough challenge for
most of the courageous people involved in this demanding 80 km trek across the North West
of Scotland. We were relieved when the ordeal that is DofE Gold ended, but it felt like we
achieved something.
This was Mike Rochester’s last Lochinver, since he was to take retirement that summer, and
he had been a regular and constant trainer and supervisor, first of
boys’ silver, then of boys’ bronze, and finally of boys’ gold sections,
and so was vital to the smooth and successful running of DofE at
Oakham, ever since he was first persuaded to visit the area in his first
year at Oakham in 1977. Indeed, so much did he fall in love with the
area that he and his wife, Margaret (who herself had spent much free
time training, assessing, and supervising girls’ walking expeditions)
decided to retire to the area, and (Mike being Mike) built their own property.
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The culmination of achieving the Gold Award is to be invited (these days) to a reception at
St. James’ Palace, or even a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace, or even to Windsor. In
2004 Dick Clarke, father of Sophie, wrote: Time goes on and with Sophie now well into her
first year at university the invitation to St. James’ Palace arrived. Great excitement and
expectations, and I’m lucky enough to have pulled a rather long straw to get a place to go
with her and witness the proceedings. What grandeur, the Palace’s five state rooms being the
venue; rather appropriately, there was gold leaf everywhere, huge portraits hung, and the
sweet melody of the Queen’s Guard Chamber Orchestra softened the atmosphere. The
banisters were beautifully soft being covered in plush red velvet, not good for sliding down,
however. Everyone was being made to feel rather special and there, casually milling in the
background, were Uri Geller, Alan Titchmarsh, and Lloyd Scott, the guy who ran the
marathon in a deep-sea diving suit to raise much needed money for leukaemia research, an
illness from which he himself had recovered. It was Lloyd Scott who was to present the Gold
Awards to the Oakham School recipients and he gave a hugely inspiring and moving talk
before giving out the individual awards. For me it was one for the memory bank; as a parent
I had that sort of puffed up pride that doesn’t get any bigger or better. For my daughter
Sophie it was an equally huge moment with the realisation that all her efforts in the many and
varied disciplines that are needed for the completion of ‘The Gold’ had now been rewarded.
Wow, and we hadn’t seen the Duke of Edinburgh – yet. The large door at the end of the
stateroom opened and in he walked. This man, after forty-something years of DofE, has never
ever missed a gold award ceremony. It is that important to him. He had a great warmth with
him which seemed to transfer to the students as he talked to each and every group in turn; he
gave them no doubts that they had achieved a tremendous amount, that they all totally and
utterly deserved to be there, and that he too was proud and happy to be sharing this very
special day with them. After a quick chat and nod with one or two DofE ‘big hitters’ he
quietly left by what seemed to be a side door.
Max (Old Oakhamian) and Amanda Heron witnessed their own children participate
successfully in DofE at Oakham, but then went a stage further (as have many parents) and
offered their services in the hills: For once we arrive on time. We drive into Osmotherley
Youth Hostel at 7 pm in time for supper with the assessors who have gathered from across
the UK. The evening routine follows: meet our groups; check their kit; weigh it and remove
surplus items; review their route; and revise their basic navigational skills. Saturday
morning dawns damp and grey – perfect weather for testing the group’s resolve. The North
Yorkshire Moors are a challenging area for navigation with vast tracts of heather which all
looks the same. The plethora of grouse shooting tracks, many not on the map, add to the
confusion and emphasise reliance on map and compass. On Saturday we all walk with our
groups. The time is taken to give practical tips, as well as ensuring that each walker is tested
in leading and navigating the group. Importantly, we review emergency procedures so that
everyone knows what to do in the event of an injury or poor visibility. The weather clears and
we have a demanding walk into our campsite at an isolated farm. A map check reveals that it
is three miles from the nearest pub, so that is an unlikely option tonight! On Sunday the
groups get themselves going and follow their routes unaided, although they have pre-agreed
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check points where they leave route cards. The assessors criss-cross the area picking up the
cards and monitoring the groups’ progress. Mid-afternoon I spend an hour watching my
group across a valley as they look for a track which I can see but they cannot! I see them set
off at 90 degrees to the right course; time for intervention. I manage to ford a river, climb a
bank, and walk along a gated farm road surrounded by barking dogs, eventually catching up
with the group who know exactly where they are but cannot find a way through the river. On
the final morning there is no need for motivation. The groups are away early but the heather
provides further cartographic challenges which are successfully overcome. By lunchtime on
Monday everyone is on their way home. Why do we do it? There is huge satisfaction from
helping a group of 15/16 year olds to learn about themselves and to watch them grow in
confidence and self-reliance as they navigate 50 km of difficult terrain with a 25 kg pack. It
also provides a great break from work in wonderful countryside.
But back to the participants. 2005 witnessed another cycling coast-to-coast expedition,
although the crossing was (as ever) west to east and not east to west as thought by Andrew
Harvey: For our gold expedition we decided to take on a real challenge. We had to cycle
from the east coast of Britain to the west coast. The experience proved very tiring, as
expected, but was a great experience. The four hour bus journey saw us go up to the Lake
District where we camped the first night. As we arrived early enough we were able to spend
some time on the beach before the long haul awaiting us in the coming days. After our fish
and chips and meeting with the local people we went back to the campsite and waited for the
next day. Our group (Nick Holden, Hugo Saunders, Paul Chau and I) all had a problem with
getting up in the morning. We were often the last to leave, which was probably a bad idea as
on the first day of cycling we had to cycle up ‘Hard Knock Pass’ [actually Hardknott Pass],
the steepest road in England. There was a gradient sign of 33% making us all consider what
we were doing. However, after meeting up with the other group at the hill we became
inspired and managed to destroy the hill, after which we had lunch. This is when we realised
there was still a massive hill left! The downhill from ‘Hard Knock Pass’ was extremely steep,
which was awesome, but the uphill of ‘Rhynose Pass’ [actually Wrynose Pass] wasn’t. At the
top of the second hill we all thought that by the laws of physics it had to be downhill all the
way to campsite. Alas, how wrong could we be! The second day started with a nice boat ride
across Lake Windermere. This day was apparently quite hilly but not as bad as the first. We
found this to be incorrect. The first half of the day went smoothly with only the odd puncture
but ended with a typical DofE hill that totally exhausted the whole team. At the top we only
had a downhill stretch to get to the second campsite near Hawes. We all had dead legs and
were very tired. The third day was the longest and flattest. This was the day that the team
really bonded. We were feeling very good after a long rest and hit the road with everything
we had. In the afternoon we didn’t really stop once and annihilated the day by ending up at
the campsite long before the other groups. The fourth and final day was amazing. For once
we were the first to leave the campsite and never looked back. At the end we all went down to
the North Sea and threw a rock from the west coast into the east coast sea. It was a special
place to finish as it was at Robin Hood’s Bay, a very picturesque and historic town. After
chilling in the town for a while we all went back to Boggle Hole for our rest and debrief
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ready to travel home the next day. The whole experience was thoroughly worthwhile and
enjoyable, through the pain. Our whole group learnt many new things and found the trip very
valuable.
Patrick Firmager wrote about the
totality of the boys’ silver walking
experience through the year: DofE
Silver began with 26 fresh-faced
adolescents and ended with 22 rugged
and experienced men. We faced many
challenges along the way but we all
tried our hardest to find a way to
persevere. Some mornings you may
wake up to find a puddle of ice in your
tent but the main point about DofE is that you can choose to give up or you can deal with it
and get on with the rest of the day. DofE is a real judge of character and brings out the best
in people. We did three expeditions this year: we went to the North York Moors, the Peak
District, and finally the Lake District. Each expedition got increasingly more difficult and the
hardest thing was that the last two expeditions were within two weeks of each other, meaning
that we were tired for the real thing. We travelled for about six hours on a very, very small
coach before arriving at Wastwater youth hostel. This was quite a challenge in itself and
some of us were already looking forward to getting home to a nice warm bed. We spent the
Saturday night and Sunday night at the youth hostel before starting our real expedition. We
spent the Sunday getting acclimatised to the environment, which was basically an excuse to
send us on a 14 km walk to the amusement of our instructors and teachers. We then started
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our qualifying expedition on the Monday.
We all walked roughly 20 km the first two
days and a quick 10 km on the
Wednesday. The walking was fairly
difficult throughout. It was either very
uphill or very downhill. A rare kilometre
of flat land was truly a godsend. The two
nights we camped out could be summed
up in a word – wet. We had to dry out our
tent on the second night so that we
wouldn’t drown. Despite all of this we managed to finish the expedition and complete that
part of the entire award. Overall the experience has been completely and utterly worthwhile.
We all hope that Gold will be at least half as fun as this has been.
Of course it was! Camping in snow had been arranged!
In September 2005 the decision was made that DofE walking sections were to become mixed,
starting with that year’s bronze intake, although the actual expedition groups would remain
mono-sex; this was to allow more flexibility, in that participants could now choose to be
either ‘Monday’ or ‘Friday’, thereby allowing them to opt for another activity on either a
Monday or a Friday that otherwise would have clashed. As Nick Neve explained: Once upon
a time a mixed school made its pupils do their DofE in single gender groups, on different
days, in different places. (I know this sounds like a fairy tale, but it’s true – honest – keep
reading.) The Boys Bronze Walking (as they were known) trained on Fridays. The Girls
Bronze Walking (as they were known) trained on Mondays, and were Different. Then one day
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a boy wondered if he and his friends might be permitted to play golf. Now golf happened on
Fridays and these boys also wanted to do Bronze Walking. Not sure how to proceed, the boys
sought the counsel of a Wise Man. So AJW (Adam Williams, for it was he) called the Fairy
Godmother. (Actually, he emailed all those concerned but that doesn’t sound so interesting.)
The Fairy Godmother (Sarah Gomm) waved her magic wand and in next to no time the boys
were training with the girls on Mondays and playing golf on Fridays. To balance numbers
some girls started training with the boys on Fridays. And so it came to pass that the Boys
Bronze Walking were no longer just boys and they started calling themselves Bronze Walking
Fridays. That October the group went camping in the Forest of Dean. They slept in brand
new tents and cooked on new gas stoves (so much quicker and cleaner than meths) and had a
camp fire every night. And they all lived happily ever after. As Alex Blaza added: On the first
night we cooked, ate, washed and then sat around a camp fire until gone eleven. The next
morning was freezing and very foggy. We were taught to map read, navigate, and estimate
distance. It may not sound interesting but actually it was. That night we planned our route for
the last day. We got up at 0630hrs. and left at 0700 hrs. Carrying everything we walked for
14 km. with no instructor. The weekend was one of my best experiences yet.
Of course, not all encounters with the outdoors can
be so pleasurable, as activities during and at the end
of Spring Term 2006 showed. Bronze Walking took
place in the Peak District, and at the Cat and Fiddle
as a group walked hiked by the thermometer read 5C with a wind speed of 29 mph, meaning a wind
chill of - 23C. Bronze cyclists were in the New
Forest, where it was better weather than the extreme
weather of heavy rain and high winds that faced the
Silver and Gold cyclists in Wales. Boys’ and Girls’
Silver Walking were in the Lake District where the
next day we had to go over the notorious Black Sail
Pass in torrential rain. The worst was reserved for
the Boys and Girls Gold groups up in Lochinver:
After a long rest we set off from our camp with
rather gloomy weather conditions. We knew that
most of the day ahead of us was going to be pure
orienteering. This would put all of our navigation
skills to the test. Our bearing was to take us over
many hills through many valleys to the base ridge of
Canisp. However, it was agreed with our assessor
that we were not to attempt to climb it if the top was
covered with cloud. We would if the reverse was
apparent and we would climb it alone. It took a long time through some light drizzle to get to
the base ridge that would take us up Canisp. When we got there, there was no way we could
get up and come down alive. The visibility was extremely poor. We could not see anything of
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the hill itself as it was immersed in thick cloud. We made the group decision to take the
escape route around the hill. This took us down to a lake where we could meet Baz, our
assessor, just for a check up. We left a message on a path and carried on without him
because the weather had caught up with us as it had begun to rain hard with ice cold winds.
This passed us by within thirty minutes and the
sun shone on us immediately. We walked along
a ridge, keeping one of the lochans on our left,
and here we met up with Baz. The campsite was
just over one more hill, and on the other side of
the road. We were almost halfway there. The
weather set in on us again with more rain and
strong winds accompanying us into our camp.
We chose to use the trees adjacent to us as a
shield from the wind. It was here that our lead
navigator, Navin, informed us that he was
feeling a throbbing pain in both of his Achilles tendons. (Leo Sugden, Tant Cooper, Tom
Wragg, Patrick Firmager, Navin Leanage, Angus Bailey)
But as luck would have it, it was “Scorching Sun in the Lakes” for the Girls’ Gold Walking
groups in the summer, with routes having to be re-designed to avoid hill ascents because of
danger from heat exhaustion, and it was “Summer Cycling in Shropshire” for the ten Bronze
Cyclists. But while that autumn it was “Fun and Fireworks for Bronze DofE” on their first
practice in Rutland, it was “Gold Girls Brave the Biting Winds in Yorkshire” where overall
the camping was dire, the weather atrocious, and the food abysmal, but the whole experience
was shockingly good fun. There’s nothing like a bit of cowpat and cabbage to wake you up in
the morning.
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March Service Weekend in 2007 saw the Monday
Bronze Walking in the Peak District (left), with a
degree of “getting there first” rivalry between the boy
and girl groups, soon sorted out by the supervisory
team by adding a few kilometres onto the boys’
routes. Then came the Easter vacation qualifying
expeditions. Silver Cyclists (below) it was that this
time went coast-to-coast, following the same route as
the previous year’s Gold, and the trip was extended
from three to four days so as to complete the venture.
Even so, the first day through the Lakes and over the
passes was 10 hours in duration, the second day of 95
km through the Yorkshire Dales lasted 11 hours, the
Yorkshire Vale and western North York Moors was
just 90 km in eight hours, and the last day through to
Robin Hood’s Bay was over by lunchtime in time for
a quick swim before heading south and home.
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The Girls’ Silver Walking section (run by Pat Evans) was in the Lake District, kitted out for
rain, but it was a sun-tanning expedition: For those who had forgotten to bring sun cream,
which was everyone, there was the potential to burn. Who would have thought that the Lake
District could have had beautiful weather in March? Still, in the end we were forced to put up
with the fact and set off, maps and compasses at the ready, with sheep looking on as we
negotiated the paths and bogs that seem to follow DofE participants round the UK. The day’s
walking was easy for some; others had a more difficult route, but all of us made it to our
respective first campsites without incident. All of us, that is, except group Five, who had an
interesting introduction to the local stepping stones. At the end of the walk we all set up camp
with more enthusiasm than anything else we had done in the day and got some rest. Out early
again the next morning, skirting round tarns and unfriendly sheep towards our second
campsites. The weather was spectacular again and spirits were high. The routes and the
accompanying stunning views of the surrounding area were magnificent. Day three arrived
and we were feeling the strain, but remained resolutely cheerful all the way back to the
second youth hostel. Well deserved and much needed showers as well as cooked food were
waiting for us via steep hills and river walkways. (Lucy Cadell and Sarah Pollard)
For the Boys Silver Walking (run by Antosh Kowhan) it was just the same: After arriving in
the picturesque Lake District we were thoroughly looking forward to the expedition and it did
not disappoint. It was easily the most awe-inspiring terrain we had been to and we enjoyed
every moment together. From the acclimatisation day in which we saw Hardknott Fort, a
Roman fortress, and climbed numerous peaks, to the final day alongside magnificent Derwent
Water and over High Spy, each step had something new and unique to offer. The views of
Wastwater from Illgill Head and Whinn Rigg were truly amazing. Over the 50 km walk we
experienced glorious weather, which enhanced the experience for the whole group. However,
it was not just the walking that was enjoyable. At
each campsite we had the chance to practise our
camp skills whilst also relaxing in the beautiful
surroundings. At the end of the week together the
group had learnt about both the world surrounding
them and themselves. (Oliver Wolfe)
Of course, the Boys’ Gold was in Lochinver (right):
Four days of serious walking were to follow, and so
one can imagine our delight when we arrived to a
beautiful sunset, with a brilliant forecast on the bus
radio. In fact the expedition turned out to be one of
the luckiest, weather-wise, that Oakham School had
organised, although a torrential downpour several
days before our arrival had bogged many of our
routes. Our first day in particular was dotted with
detours around swamps and we finally arrived at
our campsite a full four hours after we had
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intended. Despite the ground conditions, the good weather kept our spirits up. The good
weather was especially beneficial on our third day when we climbed Canisp, one of the
highest mountains in the area, with no difficulties and with perfect visibility. Our moments on
the top of the peak were some of the few in our lives in which we have been truly free of the
noise of life at ground-level. The drone of cars, the humming of laptops, even the birdsong
was absent so high up, and we celebrated our achievement quietly in a wind-shelter built on
the highest point of Canisp. After more walking than can be represented on paper, and many
more touching anecdotes, we arrived back at the youth hostel we had started from. Our
circuit of one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland complete, another coach journey was
exactly the kind of rest we needed after our very last DofE expedition. The groups swapped
their stories with each other on the way home, but I know that the personal experience that
my friends and I gained on our own trip is what will stay with us forever. (Tom Robinson)
Ten Bronze Cyclists spent Summer Term Exeat 2007 in Shropshire: The cyclists had little
difficulty navigating the damp, empty (even on a Bank Holiday) twisty single track lanes,
scaling the edge and descending towards the lovely Ludlow plains. Unfortunately the ‘lean,
mean, cycling machine’ fell of his bike due to mild hypothermia, and soon after arriving at
the farm for their overnight campsite, another cyclist in the same group, running in shorts
and bare feet (‘Lord of the Flies’ style) sustained an injury which meant a visit to Ludlow
hospital – a broken finger. On his return all rallied round by cooking his supper and drying
his cycling gear in the barn. The rain cleared overnight and most awoke refreshed but damp.
The hills the next day were more challenging and yet the scenery more dramatic as they
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approached Long Mynd from the south and along its shoulder. Thrilled not to get lost and
arriving at their next campsite early, the groups had time to wing, paddle in the river, and
play football. They know that appreciating the rural surroundings is all part of the deal.
Homeward bound, the final ascent of the north side of Long Mynd was challenging but was
made to seem relatively effortless by the resilient but tired groups. Most beautiful were the
wonderful freewheel descents. ….. Never a race, always a test, this cycling trip was one of the
best because the students all surprised themselves in different ways.
That same Exeat the Friday Bronze Walkers
were in The Cheviots (left), under Adam
Petit: The task for the pupils was to get
across the hills from Wooler in the east to
Kirk Yetholm in the west, camping in a
variety of beautiful spots. However, the trip
had started the day before across the
border in Melrose, where we took over, for
the first time, Melrose hostel. A walk across
the main road led to a small range of
suitably steep hills offering the instructors,
together with the pupils, a great warm-up
for the next two days. The weather was
great and the scenery was, as usual,
stunning.
The
pupils
surpassed
requirements by all walking well over 30
km, finishing just in time to get back to the
Melrose Youth Hostel for supper.
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The Girls’ Gold Walkers that July 2007 were in the Lake District: We set off in a positive
mood, fuelled by the compulsory (no, seriously, they shoot you if you don’t have it) fry-up.
The day, however, did not live up to our expectations. The rain was stop-start and the
waterproofs were whipped on and off at regular intervals. Some members of the group were
soon sick of the conditions, but we, using our vaunted powers of ratiocination, managed to
keep morale up. However, the state of being commonly known as ‘fed-up’ soon changed into
feelings of illness for one of our group. When it became clear that even our hearty singing
could not alleviate the symptoms, it was obvious that the situation was indeed serious.
Therefore, as soon as we reached our campsite we cooked a hearty meal of boil-in-the-bag
nutrients for our fallen comrade and settled in for a good night’s sleep. We set off blisterplastered up to the teeth and with sanitary towels on our hips to prevent rubbing. After it had
taken an hour and a half to walk one kilometre it was decided that the ill members of our
group could not carry on. The fractious fraction took with them our noble leader, Emily, who
sacrificed herself for the good of the group. She, like Aslan, managed to come back to us.
This was a turn up for the books, as in her absence the fantastic four of us, the elite, the
crème de la crème of DofE, managed to take the wrong path down the mountain. The
aforementioned path turned out to be nothing than a rock face, jutting out from the hostile
environment. Having been stopped by our assessors from continuing, we were told that Emily
would be rejoining us having led the ill members of the group to safety. Hooray! At the
campsite we were reunited with the rest of the group, and what a reunion it was too. On the
third day, God created sunlight and we saw that it was good. We walked up the famous
Honister Pass, past the slate mine. The path was a DofE motorway, so vast and wide. The
day was full of singing and laughter, and we even had time to stop on the way to camp to sit
on the hillside and play charades. When we arrived at the campsite we went for a stroll down
to the lake; this was one of the best bits of the expedition as it was so relaxing skimming
stones (or at least trying to) as the sun started to go down. On the fourth and last day we
were so sad to be leaving the spendours of the best and last campsite but also that DofE was
coming to an end. We only had one hill to do, but that was enough given how ridiculously big
it was. Our lesson of the day was that if you think you can see the top of the hill, you can’t.
Ever. It is so easy when on DofE to forget to look at the phantasmagoria of the hills, valleys,
fields and rock faces that we pass along the route. This trip was full of beautiful scenery,
some of which, at least, was appreciated. Cold and wet we might have been but our spirits
were still high. This state was significantly helped, too, by the fact that once off the top of the
mountain our path down was rather pleasant. It wasn’t quite the DofE motorway as before,
but still very good compared with the usual standard of the terrain. To say that we always
enjoyed DofE would be, for the majority of the group, a lie. What can be said, though, is that
it is marvellous fun and the pain, though present, isn’t all that bad, unless you are stupid
enough not to wear your boots in first. The food isn’t even all that dire either, as everything
tastes ten times better when it is eaten on DofE. (Vicky Adams and Frankie Rankin)
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It was snowy again in Lochinver 2008, which led to major disruption of the plans of the
groups: Eventually the boys and single girl group slowly one by one began to disappear into
the surrounding mountains, but the expedition had only just begun; if only we had known
what we had got ourselves into and the tribulations we were to be faced with. Our first night
in the wilderness required a large amount of layers as temperatures reached minus 12
degrees. On day two we were again welcomed to Lochinver’s permanent weather, being yet
more snow, with horizontal hail topping the whole thing off. Our group set off at a good pace
with the boys not far in front – although we met them at the loch throwing cannonballs at us,
determined to get us wet or make us fall in. After continuing for most of the day along a socalled farmer’s track that we are still unable to find and think never existed, we soon reached
our next lumpy patch of heather and peat bog which was a supposed campsite. However, it
was occupied by a herd of unsuspecting deer, which we soon chased away. Most groups,
once discussed when finished, found that day three was by far the hardest, being halfway
there but still knowing there was a night to go and a lot more walking. And, to be quite
honest with you, day three was an absolute nightmare. After an interesting start to the
morning with our tent suddenly catching a gust of wind and being ripped from Tryce’s hands,
and Tryce having therefore to chase after it, climbing a couple of mountains in the process, it
was soon retrieved, just an hour late and minus a couple of pegs. We carried on with our epic
journey to the indigenous region of the land of Scots. The latter part of the day ended in all
four of us at one point having a few, or in some cases a flood of, tears, which were soon dried
up by the strong northerly winds. We arrived late at camp, having walked for eight hours
solid. However, we were happy, knowing it was our last night camping and that it would all
soon be over, with no
more body heat
being shared. Day
four brought more
snow and was by far
the coldest day with
the zips of our tent
being
frozen
together. We were
keen to set off early
as we were eager to
get back to the youth
hostel to be the first
in the showers. After
many head-first falls
into the snow and plenty of falling into pot holes we finally decided to start taking in the rest
of the view as it was our last day walking. After reaching the road at a very speedy pace,
parallel to Loch Assynt, we sat waiting hopefully for the minibus, but were soon to realise
that walking back to Inchnadamphf was our only option if we were to get into the dry and
warmth. (Poppy Whitbread and Jossie Drabble)
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The cyclists were in Wales: I’ve
learnt many things …. To appreciate a
bed; to maintain your brakes, some
tents aren’t waterproof, Wales has
some big hills! It was the hardest
physical and mental challenge I have
ever done – only the brave / insane
should apply! (Robert Binks) It was
fun until I woke up in the morning to
find I was cold, wet, and it was still
raining! (Gordon Bates) DofE is a
great challenge and a great team
experience. I will never forget the
memories of this trip. (Xaver Mayer)
It felt awesome to have completed
such a massive challenge. (Christian
Gray) We have learnt how important
life skills such as team work,
organisation,
perseverance
and
strong communication really are.
(Catherine Kent) Going uphill is
horrid but the long downhills in Wales
made it worth it. (Sam Quemby)
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The Friday Bronze Walkers were in Exmoor for their qualifying expedition in May 2008.
On the first day we set off at about 8.30 am after having heard that one of the boys’ groups
had already left at about 6.30 am. Our first leg of the journey was part of the South West
coastal path, which we all found out was not flat as we had been informed, and we definitely
should not have done it first as we were all extremely tired afterwards. We then carried on
through one of the farms, which another group had stayed at the night before. From our
maps we knew that we were meant to cross the river to our left which was easier said than
done. After about half an hour of trying to find a bridge, stepping stones, or even a place in
the river that was shallow enough to cross, we gave up and ate our lunch. After lunch we set
off on the path we were already on, having worked out that we were able to meet up with the
path that we wanted if we crossed the river a bit further up than we planned. We then joined
up with the Samaritan’s Way and saw one
of the boys’ groups, who decided to depress
us even more by telling us that it was two
hours to our next check point. We then
walked across the top of the moorland for
what was definitely two hours, if not longer.
When we arrived at our last checkpoint, we
had a well-earned rest. We then only had
another half hour, mostly downhill, to
Westermill Farm, our campsite for the
night. When we arrived we set up camp and
went to bed straight after we had eaten something, knowing that we were getting up at 5.30
am the next day. On the second day we walked a lot faster than expected and a lot faster than
the first day as well. We were at our first checkpoint by 9.30 am which was an hour earlier
than our assessor had expected us. We then had to wait for our assessor to finish his
breakfast and come and meet us before we could carry on through the forest with the dreaded
‘killer hill’. We picked up the path that would take us all the way to Porlock Weir and had
our lovely Sunday lunch on Porlock beach with the misty headland in the distance. We then
walked into Porlock Weir car park. All in all, it was a good weekend, and although we were
told that the chance of getting a tick was about 1:200,000 we managed to attract twelve of
them! We were all very grateful to get the weight off our feet when we got on the coach home
and although we did not feel it at the time we all know now that we thoroughly enjoyed the
experience. (Hannah Adbul-Rahim)
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There was another radical advance made in 2008, when for the first time sailing was used as a
means of expedition transportation. Sailing had been resuscitated as a sport at Oakham by
Nick Neve, and it was his inspiration that brought about this next stage of Oakham’s DofE
history took place on the Norfolk Broads.
The first day of the expedition was conducted under Lars’
rule as skipper. We set off well with the wind in our sails.
This promptly dropped and we took turns quanting (posh
term for punting). The pole or quant is dropped vertically
into the water like a spear from the boat. The user pushes
the quant into the bottom of the broad and then, burying
the other end of the quant into his shoulder, proceeds to
push at an angle. The quant stays still in the water and the
boat is pushed along. The walker then walks down the
precarious length of the
boat and pulls out the
quant. The action is
repeated until the user
has persuaded someone
else to take over,
usually with biscuits,
crisps,
tea,
coffee,
sweets,
or
other
foodstuffs
used
as
bargaining chips (if this
fails the qaunter is reduced to begging). Of course, it can
all go wrong! After 10 km of quanter we moored up,
exhausted, in Sutton. After drawing the short straw, I was
nominated skipper for day two. Leaving Sutton we quanted towards our second mooring
through the narrow, winding and sheltered waterways. As we crossed the glistening waters of
Barton Broad, the shelter died away and the wind picked up. We were able to stop quanting
and enjoy the sensation of the wind which had been absent for so long. However, we soon
entered sheltered waterways again and, as we were doubling back on the previous day’s
route for this leg, an air of melancholy descended on our boats. We dropped our mast to pass
under Ludham Bridge two hours behind schedule due to lack of wind. Thankfully the
stretches of water ahead looked open and there was much more wind. Turning east, the new
found wind helped tremendously and our boats raced along the broads. I was more than
eager to catch up on lost time and was amazed when we caught up with and overtook one of
the massive motorboats which frequent the Broads. We cruised through Foot ferry and
reached Hoveton Little Broad two hours ahead of schedule, bringing into sharp focus the
unpredictable nature of our travel speed and the enormous amount of variables that factor it
in. The third day was dead calm. So calm in fact that we had to cut a section out of our
journey to arrive at midnight at Hoveton. As there was no room for us to moor, we had to
126
improvise and tie up to some stakes situated near a forest on the other side of the broad to
Hoveton. The fourth and final day of our epic expedition was declared ‘national pyjama day’
by skipper Harry, meaning that the only clothes allowed were pyjamas and every meal
throughout the day must unerringly be referred to as breakfast. Although the wind was light
at the start of the day, when we visited the ruins of St. Benet’s Abbey, the wind picked up and
we made speedy progress to Thurne, where we explored, and then turned back to Hunter’s
yard in Ludham where our expedition came to an end. Though tired and having acquired
many new blisters, rope burn wounds and calluses, we felt that we had made a real
achievement. Words cannot really encapsulate the feelings of: relief (that we had got the boat
back in one piece); tiredness (due to poor sleep and quanting); pain (because of rope burns
on top of rope burns); confusion (how is it possible to have rope burn on top of rope burn?);
and, of course, excitement as we had finally completed the DofE Gold expedition. (Will
Lewis)
The 2008-09 expedition season followed much the same format. The Oakhamian reports that
in October 2008 Bronze cyclists were in Rutland, Silver cyclists were in the Peak District, as
were Gold walkers; in March Bronze walkers were in the Peak District, Bronze cyclists were
in Norfolk and Gold walkers were in the Brecon Beacons; then in the Easter vacation Gold
cyclists were once again on the Coast-to-Coast route, Monday Silver walkers were in the
Lake District, and the Gold walkers (boys and girls) were in Lochinver, for the fortieth
consecutive time in March / April. But the very poor weather in the north-west persuaded the
authorities that from 2010 onwards the Gold walkers would return, of course, to Lochinver,
but in June – to suffer the midges and the heat! As for this last venture north to the ice and the
snow: the most challenging physical endurance test I have ever dealt with, but also one of the
most rewarding (Michael Overton); Challenging yet defining. An unforgettable experience
(Group Two). Summer Exeat saw Bronze Walkers in The Cheviots and Exmoor, and the
summer vacation was time enough for Friday Silver Walkers in the Lakes and Silver Cycling
(the first year in which the qualifying expedition was run separately to the Gold qualifying
expedition) on the Isle of Mull, another new location for the School.
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By the time of Joe Spence’s (and Terry Dixon’s) departure in 2009, these numbers had risen
to 4894 Awards – 2004 Bronze, 1596 Silver and 1294 Gold. The Headmaster had attended a
Gold Award Presentation at St.
James’ Palace, and he wrote: One
way in which Oakham School has
always shown its commitment to
outreach is through The Duke of
Edinburgh’s Award Scheme, and it
was my great pleasure to be a
guest at a presentation at St.
James’ Palace recently at which
the Duke of Edinburgh met five
recent Old Oakhamians who were
there to collect their Gold Awards:
Emily Healey, Rachel Hollis, Matt
Allsopp, John Green, and James
Haythornthwaite. I am in a
position to tell you exactly what
the Duke of Edinburgh was saying
at the moment the photograph of
me with him was taken. Having
made clear he knew of Oakham’s
continuing commitment to The
Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Scheme, he was keen to ask
whether there was any prospect of
there being, in the near future, a
family of Oakhamians in which a
grandparent, parent, and child
have all completed the Gold
Award. Such a family has not yet been discovered, but with the first Gold Awards achieved in
1963, that time cannot be far away.
Terry’s position was taken over by Steve Gorman, who was the school’s first appointment as
Outdoor Activities Co-ordinator, and under his influence such activities began to take place
throughout the school, even for those not involved in DofE or CCF. Even so, the normal
DofE expedition activities continued apace, with The Oakhamian highlighting some of them:
Bronze Walkers somewhere in Nottingham, Gold Cyclists (led by Yves Toussaint) once more
on the coast-to-coast route, Gold Sailors crossing the English Channel, not once, but twice,
there and back, Gold Walkers in the Peak District and Snowdonia, Gold Walkers qualifying
in Lochinver in the summer, and Gold Sailors on the Fort William to Inverness and back
voyage.
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The idyllic setting of St. Bees was the starting point of the
four day quest of the DofE Gold Cycling Team during the
last week of the Easter holiday. A mere 280 km separated
us from the grail we sought: the bay of Robin Hood!
Fresh from the hearty meal the day before the band of
merry men, and one woman, set out to conquer the hills
and numerous kilometres we faced. The cycling pushed
everyone to their limits, with extreme climbs worsened by
the harsh rays of the sun. At times we were climbing the
biggest hills in England, spurred on by the toffee
bonbons, whilst at other times we were flying along the
flat roads on our way to the end. To meet our challenge
we had to face early mornings, followed by long days and
punishing work for the legs. Despite this we are not fazed
and pushed each other to finish the gruelling expedition.
Upon reaching Robin Hood’s Bay on the afternoon of
Saturday we felt a wave of euphoria as we realised that
we had accomplished all that we had planned and set out
to do in the many preceding months. Of course, there is
no doubt that none of this would have been achieved
without the invaluable assistance of Mr. Jesson,
providing transport and acting as our assessor, and also
to Mr. Toussaint, to whom we are all indebted for our
training throughout the year and his inspiration and
encouragement throughout this expedition. (Andy
Whitaker and Ben Rowbotham)
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The bus rolled
into
Hamble
Point Marina
and as we
stepped off the
reality of what
we were trying
to do hit home.
For many of us
yacht sailing was still a challenge, yet here we were about to try to cross one of the busiest
shipping lanes in the world, twice, covering 150 miles, with at least half of these during the
dead of night. We dragged our paraphernalia of bags to the boat and after meeting our
skipper, Jonathan, set about cooking dinner. After a plate of pasta and a short briefing, we
hit the bunks for the first time. The prospect of a day’s sailing in the sun (and of course bacon
sandwiches) dragged us from our sleep the next morning and we started to learn our way
around the boat. We spent most of the early part of the day practising boat handling and
manoeuvres, before we headed out into the Solent and started sailing to our overnight stop in
Yarmouth. The training throughout the day was put to good use over the next few days, one
notable example being our experience of an impromptu man overboard drill to rescue a lost
hat! Our attempts at sleeping early did not prepare us for our 2 am start the next day for our
first voyage into the open channel. Unfortunately our early enthusiasm to reach France was
slowly quelled as a mix of swell, nerves and lack of sleep led to various mishaps. As Ed’s
crawl to the toilet, TH’s alone time with the side rail, and Ben’s attempt to spice up the bacon
proved, we had grossly underestimated the effects of sea sickness. However, after we had
become accustomed to the tiredness and wiped the last of the boat clean from various
mishaps, we began to handle the boat better, and after twelve hours drew into Cherbourg
harbour. The afternoon was spent in and around the harbour relaxing, tidying the boat and
enjoying the most of the French sunshine before a helping of local cuisine at a nearby
restaurant. It’s probably fair to say that despite taking sea sickness tablets and setting a
watch system, we still felt panicky about the night crossing, but we were in for a shock. Once
out of Cherbourg harbour, with half of us safely asleep, we cracked on through the night and
discovered that, with three hour shifts, calmer seas and a sky full of stars, sailing at night
was an experience. The favourable winds and tides not only helped the queasier nature of our
crew but allowed us to beat through the 60 mile crossing at a remarkable pace. As the sun
dawned and the Isle of Wight became visible it became clear just how great our achievement
was. Both Red Watch and Green Watch came up on deck as we approached our final berth.
Our heads were tired, our bodies wearisome, but we were thrilled to have completed the
journey. As vast quantities of lunch were served and eaten on deck, we couldn’t help but feel
rather pleased with ourselves and what we’d accomplished. DofE sailing? A dropout option?
I don’t think so! (Tom Johnson)
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Gold Walking in
Snowdonia
Twenty-five
students from this
section attended a
successful training
weekend in the
Welsh mountains
of Snowdonia. The
group experienced
perfect training
weather, including
warm sunshine,
allowing inspiring
panoramic views,
alongside another
day in thick fog
turning to rain.
Throughout the
weekend students
were challenged to
develop their
navigational
techniques, paying
attention to fine
detail and
accuracy. The
evening night
navigation session
allowed pupils to
put the theory of
navigating in
reduced visibility
into practice,
whilst the fog next
day consolidated
this further.
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Then Gold Walkers in Lochinver: Fifty-three Oakham students, five members of staff, and six
volunteers (including two Old Oakhamians) travelled to the Northwest Highlands at the end
of the Summer Term to embark on the qualifying expedition for the Gold DofE Award. As in
previous years, the Monday and Friday walking groups merged for travel up to Scotland.
However, for the first time the groups set themselves the challenge of walking from coast to
coast, starting in the west, and finishing at Carbisdale Castle on the east coast. After two
nights prior to the expedition in the relative comfort of Inchnadamph Hostel checking
equipment and routes and completing a warm-up route to become familiar with the kind of
terrain they were to encounter, groups set out over a variety of routes, taking in dramatic
coastal and mountain scenery in this spectacular setting. Undaunted by insect life, or by the
forecast (promising gusts up to gale force and heavy rain at times) all students stoically
persevered with their chosen routes, completing their expedition successfully. Indeed the
setting of Carbisdale Castle, perhaps the grandest of all youth hostels, provided a suitable
celebratory environment as groups arrived, tired but proud, at the end of their expedition.
(Andrew Baynes, Gold Walking Section leader)
Finally, the Gold Sailors: You’d have to be mad to do it, right? Yet the seven of us who
embarked on our final DofE expedition across Scotland had chosen to do so, not in the
expanses of the highlands, but in a 28 foot boat with only six bunks and cramped conditions –
and our assessors even managed to do this with a dog. Our traversing of Scotland was an
amazing experience, featuring sailing of every kind and provided us with a week of brilliant
memories, good times, and excellent food – one obvious bonus over our walking friends and
their Trangia stoves! Our acclimatisation day saw us learning the ropes (quite literally for
some of it) and having revised how exactly to sail a yacht we set off down Loch Lochy to our
overnight stop at Fort William, and with pasta on the boil and the tent set up we went over
last minute plans before getting an early night. As one of our aims for the expedition had
been to cross Scotland by boat, surprisingly we woke and had to embark on a reasonable
walk down past a flight of locks to the sea in order to actually begin our coast to coast travel.
We hate to confess to any walkers who tackled the hills of Scotland that this is the longest
distance we actually walked during the expedition. So with the sun above us we commenced
our journey and with a favourable wind pushing us up the canal we became accustomed to
the realities of sailing a yacht in a narrow canal. With an hour of very little wind behind us,
and having attempted some skilful manoeuvring in the lochs, we settled back and enjoyed our
second crossing of Loch Lochy, despite some volatile weather, to end up back where we
started at Laggan Locks for our first overnight stop. Whilst the wind whipped along the
valleys we began to appreciate the cosy environment and the hot meals. However, our
snacking habits had caused our supply of chocolate and crisps to run low and Selina
reluctantly drew up a list and divided up our snacks.
The second day was much more technical and under careful helming from Marc and
Francine we manoeuvred along the winding canal, taking care as some rather enthusiastic
trawlers raced alongside us. The biggest shock of the day came as Ed Langford decided,
without warning, to launch an impromptu man overboard, which left us feeling we were
132
prepared for anything, if not slightly disgruntled. Yet as we enjoyed a disposable barbecue on
the shores of Loch Ness we could not help but feel that the expedition had gone rather well so
far. Chances of another calm day were shattered as we took our first tentative steps out onto
the Loch and were greeted by an eerie calm. An old phrase seemed to bite hard as the wind
suddenly whipped up and we shot along the water at a remarkable speed, the biting cold and
rain doing little to dampen our enthusiasm for getting some proper sailing. The other big
revelation of the day was the Loch Ness Monster Museum which rather disappointingly cost a
lot for a rather poor quality experience. On the plus side, however, Selina did uncover a
large bag of chocolate which increased our rations and boosted our spirits. Once again we
sat down to our typical nightly entertainment of poker and enjoyed each other’s company,
even chatting to a group of Gold Kayakers who had been traversing the same routes as us.
The final day of the expedition began with fair weather and, as we set off early to make the
most of the wind, we ended up eating hot breakfast on the move once again, ever grateful that
this time we hadn’t had to endure any sea sickness / bacon pan related incidents. After a
quick stop before Loch Dochfour we finally drew into Inverness just after midday, put away
the sails and began our stroll down to the water’s edge at the east coast, and once again
donned our team polo shirts for a group photo looking out into the North Sea, pleased with
the achievements we had accomplished and enjoying the thrill of completing the Gold
expedition. (Tom Johnson)
133
Of course, the group now had to sail the boat back for four days to its start point, but this was
not formally a part of the DofE venture.
Immediately that Qualifying Expeditions are over, then the training for the next stage, or the
next input, is underway. The Winter Term 2010 training exercises received no mention in
The Oakhamian, but Gold Walkers in Snowdonia, Bronze Walkers in the Peak District, Gold
and Silver Cyclists in the North York Moors and Gold and Silver Cyclists in the Peak District
in the Spring Term receive write-ups.
Gold Walkers in Snowdonia: Thirty-three students, three staff and four volunteers returned
from their extended weekend to Snowdonia, where they had been involved in training
expeditions. Training involved detailed micro-navigation exercises accompanied by adult
instructors, crossing difficult mountainous terrain, mostly away from any footpaths, compass
work, pacing, complex terrain and techniques for wild camping, all combined with a trek
over a mountain pass with full rucksacks to help the paticipants gauge their level of fitness at
this early stage.
Bronze Walkers in the Peak District: We arrived after lunch for a two hour gentle
acclimatisation in Tissington. This was very helpful in preparation for the day to come. We
came to terms with the hilly landscape and really appreciated its beauty. This was also
extremely helpful in order to refresh our map reading and compass skills, which by the end
we became expert at! We woke up bright and early and set out about 0830 am after a hearty
breakfast. At this point all five groups split off in different directions: some began walking
straight away, whereas others had a short lift in the minibus. For each group it was different,
but our group immediately encountered some very steep hills; they were extremely
challenging but the view at the top was worth it! As the day went on the weather changed
134
dramatically, so we were able to remove our excess layers; this was a very pleasant surprise
as we were preparing ourselves for the cold! The hills, although challenging, were easy to
become accustomed to and the walk became easier as we continued. We aimed to reach our
campsite at around 5.00 pm in order to set up and cook before it got dark. Each group went
to a separate farm, and we are all very grateful to the kind farmers who let us sleep on their
land. We put our tents up straight-away and began to prepare our supper. After such an
exhausting day we all retired to bed at what we thought was a really late time but turned out
to be only 7.30 pm! It was a very cold night but thankfully we’d brought the right equipment
and our tents stayed nice and dry. We even managed to sneak in some star gazing at the
beautiful full moon. We were woken early by our assessors. Apart from a small shower of
rain the weather managed to stay pleasant. Our breakfast consisted of warm drinks and high
calorie foods that mostly involved chocolate! We aimed to leave the campsite by 8.30 am,
however my group was delayed by a very persistent dog that followed us for a good two
miles. The walk was definitely challenging, but walking through the valley with the sun rising
behind us lifted our spirits. Everyone was tired after our slightly cold night, however we all
managed to keep going. Our walk was much shorter, since we only had to walk 12 km, but
unfortunately for us this meant walking through a lot of bogs and piles of manure. By this
time we all felt comfortable with map reading and each person would have a go; however, it
was sometimes very difficult to see the camouflaged stiles in the rock walls which meant a
few wrong turns and diversions. The sight of Harrington, our final destination, in the
distance was a great feeling and the walk finished with a sing-along through town. We finally
got there at 3.00 pm and everyone was gathered on the village green laughing and telling
stories. There was a great sense of achievement as we realised we had finished our 28 km.
This expedition has taught us some real skills, the best of which was definitely being able to
work together as a team. (Hannah Gormley)
Gold and Silver Cyclists: We left for the North York Moors, ready to take on another
challenging weekend. In the morning everybody got out of bed relatively fresh and our tents
were packed into panniers and loaded onto the bikes. After a short briefing we set off group
by group in bright sunshine; the first hill greeted us as we left the campsite! Soon the routes
of each group diverged and we were left on our own in the beautiful landscape, except for the
few times we saw the minibus and could fill up our water bottles. All Gold cyclists and twothirds of the Silver cyclists arrived in camp in good time, but the last Silver group was
missing. They had got themselves lost near the end of the day’s route and found themselves
not able to reach the campsite in time before it got dark … so the only thing the group could
do was to spend the night at the top of the hill in the middle of nowhere. The next day the rain
held off and we were left cycling through another sunny spring day. This time, despite some
groups cycling greater distance than planned, everyone managed to reach camp and enjoy
the last evening together in Runswick Bay. On the third day the Silver groups were the first to
leave camp and set off for Robin Hood Bay, while the Gold groups cycled to Whitby. The sun
kept shining brightly and it had become much warmer, so everyone ended up cycling in
shorts and T-shirts. When we finished we were pretty exhausted but happy that we had been
successful. (Julia Bahlsen and Lucy Johnson)
135
Gold and Silver Cyclists in the Peak District March 2011
So, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme started at Oakham half a century ago in 1960,
and now the school celebrates its 5000th Award in 2011. This is a most remarkable record for
a single institution working as an Operating Authority, a record in which all - participants,
parents, leaders, helpers, supporters – can take great pride, knowing that the experiences
provided have enable 50 generations of young people to achieve personal fulfilment which
has enabled them to grow up through their adolescence in a purposeful manner.
Let us hope that it will not be as long as 50 years before the 10000th Award is celebrated; the
target for that number ought to be no more than another 25 years!
136
William Crossley, reckoned (but incorrectly) to be the 5000 th. Award winner, receives his gold badge from
the DoE Regional Director, Olympic and Commonwealth athlete (400 metres) Phil Brown, and below his
gold award certificate from school Trustee and Lord Lieutenant of Rutland, Dr. L.Howard, OBE, JP, at
the celebration lunch on 21st. May 2011
137
DofE Regional Director Phil Brown presents the Headmaster, Nigel Lashbrook, with a framed certificate
commemorating the 5000th. Award
138
Guests at the luncheon reading THIS booklet!
Major David Taylor, Officer Commanding Oakham School CCF, and Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock
Kennedy, GCB, AFC, DL, Deputy Lieutenant for Rutland (one-time Lord Lieutenant of Rutland and
School Trustee)
139
After the Luncheon – The Lord Lieutenant Dr. L.Howard), Brian Needham (Award Officer
1976-98), Phil Brown (Midlands Regional Officer), Terry Dixon (Award Officer 2002-09),
Mike Rees (Award Officer 1960-69), The Headmaster (Nigel Lashbrook), Will Crossley,
Steve Gorman (Award Officer 2009-present)
140
The Next 5000 Awards
Now sooner was the lunch over than the next groups of expeditioners were on their way!
Bronze Cyclists were in Shropshire, Monday Bronze Walkers in The Cheviots and Friday
Bronze Walkers in the Peak District over Summer term Exeat.
Bronze Cyclists in Shropshire Summer Term Exeat 2011
141
Gold groups in Lochinver in 2011
142
In the last week of the
summer term 2011, three
CCF Gold groups were in the
North Pennines, 51 Gold
participants
were
in
Lochinver, and Friday Silver
groups were in the Lake
District ; in the week after the
end of term the Gold sailors –
Richard
Randall,
Emily
Nagel, Georgia Carr, Jenny
Bioyd, Tioni Duffy, and
Tristan Ellis - were in (or
rather on) the Irish Sea.
The Winter Term of 2011 witnessed the re-introduction of canoeing into the expedition
section, when Steve Gorman re-commenced the activity at Bronze level with 10 participants
(two girls and eight boys), but this time using Canadian canoes and not sea-going kayaks.
Their first training expedition was on the River Soar during October Service Weekend, Gold
Sailing was on the Solent, the cyclists were in North Wales (Gold), the North York Moors
(Silver) and Norfolk (Bronze), and the walkers were in North Wales and the Peak District
(Gold), the Yorkshire Dales (Silver) and Rutland and Nottinghamshire (Bronze).
143
Silver Walking in the Lakes in summer 2011
144
Bronze Canoeists Service Weekend Autumn 2011
145
(Above) Bronze Canoeists on the River Soar and (below) Bronze Cyclists in Norfolk during Winter Term
Service Weekend 2011
146
Silver Walkers in the Yorkshire Dales (below) during Autumn Service Weekend 2011
The CCF DofE group under Duncan Wright stole a week away in February 2012: Recently,
sixth form cadets from Oakham School CCF undertaking their direct Gold Duke of
Edinburgh Award ventured out to the Peak District to top-up on their training and hone their
navigation skills. Based at the YHA hostel at Edale, they were greeted on Saturday with good
dusting of snow to enhance to occasion and make navigation more difficult! With the basics
mastered, the groups ventured up onto Kinder Scout to put into their skills into practice. Back
in the hostel, they then continued with their route planning for both practice and qualifying
expeditions before being treated to a ‘Ready, steady, cook!’ style competition to show them
that cooking from scratch in the field isn’t that difficult! A group work session on mountain
safety rounded off the weekend. All the cadets involved showed an incredibly positive
attitude, demonstrating that they are ready to take on the rigours of the Lake District at
Easter for their practice expedition and then the North Pennines for their qualifying
expedition in June. My thanks go to 2Lt Foster, SSgt Dook and Sgt Heneghan of 13 Cadet
Training Team for giving up their weekend to instruct.
147
CCF Gold in the Peak District
148
Service Weekend in March was magnificent weather, bright sun and clear skies! The Bronze
Walkers were in the Peak District (Monday) and Rutland (Friday) and the Silver Walkers in
the North York Moors (Monday) and the Peak District (Friday); the Bronze Canoeists were
on the River Nene; the Gold Sailing crossed the English Channel; the Bronze Cyclists were in
Rutland, the Silver Cyclists in the North York Moors, and the Gold Cyclists in Northumbria.
The team of Gold Cyclists set off at the beginning of service weekend with a little
apprehension. This was going to be a weekend of many hills, camp food and the need to stay
positive. After a testing journey of stopping and starting on the A1 we finally reached
Bellingham, the starting point for the 150km ahead. The boys were rested and well fed before
they disappeared into the sunshine on a beautiful first day of cycling. Group B flew ahead
while Group A took another half an hour to
navigate their way out of the village. After this
the competition to catch up and over take was
on.The day started with reasonable hills and then
a kind meander around Kielder Water. Taking a
sharp right, the groups shot off into the forest
and out into the practice grounds for the MOD.
Red flags were out but they were guaranteed
safety if they kept to the path! They flew through
the forest and were met the other side where Josh
Adlam and Harry Betts impressed us all by
putting their heads down and tearing up the
hardest terrain of the weekend. Everyone followed and showed that if this could be done, then
the Coast to Coast at Easter was well within their grasp. After
reaching the top they were greeted by tanks, army trucks and
soldiers on manoeuvres. The rest of the day seemed mild compared
to this as they arrived in Clennel for their first night of camping.
Day two involved more sunshine, continuous changes of gradient
and brilliant Northumberland countryside. Theo Ropel experienced
a small tire explosion which gave his team a chance to sit in the
sun and take on the well-earned carbohydrates while he fixed his
bike. There was relief when they realised that they were minutes
from the final campsite near Berwick upon Tweed and just in time
to catch the final 4 minutes of the rugby! (Hard luck Mr Toussaint!)
On Monday morning people were eager to go as they could see
their final destination of Holy Island in the distance and the flat sand plains that invited
speed not stamina. The boys were
determined to knock at least an hour of
their ETA. This was done easily. It is
amazing how much a promise of a
Burger King and feet up can do to
increase the speed these students will
travel! All arrived back in Oakham
smiling and pleasantly surprised at, in
retrospect, how much they had enjoyed
and achieved, knowing that the Coast to
Coast would be hard, but not
unobtainable at Easter.
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Immediately at the end of term in the last
week of March four Monday Silver groups
completed their Qualifying expeditions in
great style in brilliant Spring sunshine in
the Lake District, two CCF Gold groups
undertook practice expeditions in the same
area, and the five Monday Gold groups
enjoyed similar weather in Dartmoor
(right) for their practice expeditions. The
Friday Gold practice expeditions took
place in far less clement weather in the
Lake District in the last week of the
vacation, as well as both Gold (Coast to
Coast) and Silver (Wales) cycling qualifying expeditions.
Ten Gold cyclists (and Mr
Toussaint,
their
supervisor)
completed the 300 km route in
four days as part of their Gold
Award.
George
Brown and
Cian
Llewellyn wrote this account of
their expedition:
The Coast to Coast cycle ride
from St Bees to Robin Hood’s
Bay was to be the pinnacle of the
three years and eight expeditions
of blood, sweat and tears. As we
journeyed to St Bees there was a
clear sense of great adventure but the presence of the task ahead subdued this as we caught a
glimpse of the monumental mountains in the east, casting a shadow far over the barren
landscape. On arrival the bikes were loaded and as a team we cycled down onto the beach
dipping our rear wheels into the
sea, from this point on it was
clear that everyone was focused
on the huge task ahead. With a
mixture
of
nerves
and
excitement both teams set off
heading south and following the
coast but as the day drew on we
began to head east getting
closer and closer to Hardknott
Pass, the steepest drivable hill
in Britain, not even the bike
trailer could attempt the ascent.
The climb was the most difficult
in D of E memory, snaking its
way 300 metres up a valley. It
150
took the group almost an hour but the sense of achievement upon reaching the summit was
huge, as we knew this would be the hardest ascend we would have to deal with for the entire
journey. The journey back down was an adrenalin fuelled ride and was a great way to cool
down after the difficult ride up. The rest of the day felt like a breeze with a long lunch and a
flat section all the way to camp. Despite the day’s achievements, morale remained
constrained as the enormity of the task had been made clear.
As the second day began the nerves had settled and
we were all keen to get on with the task on hand; as
we cycled through some beautiful Yorkshire Dales
scenery, spirits were high but they were dashed
when at the top of a valley we caught of glimpse of
the sea to the west. This made the group question
our progress but we knew we needed to keep
heading east to move further inland. On completing
the second day it was clear everyone had settled into
a routine and the tents were pitched in record time
as people were keen to get a good night’s rest.
The third day had been the one to look forward to as it remained relatively flat and there was
clear progress to be made east. Again the mood was good as we ate through the miles
knowing we only had one day to go, although a flew climbs at the end of the day did begin to
push our morale and as a group we just managed to arrive at the campsite before the rains
came. Again everyone was keen to get to bed early, to get a good night rest for the long final
day ahead but also to keep dry!
151
The final morning proved to be the most difficult as wet kit and tired bodies led to a late start
but we soldiered on and soon the rain made way for some bright sunshine. The group was
pushing hard as we knew the sight of the sea would be enough to keep us going to the end;
there was a lull of anticipation at the crest of each hill as each member tried desperately to
catch a glimpse of the sea but
it never seemed to come. When
the sea finally came into view
there was a clear sense of
achievement within the group
as we knew our task was close
to completion. There was one
long last push up the coast to
Robin Hood’s Bay, and the
steep descent into the bay
signalled the completion of our
journey. It was a truly great
sense of achievement that as a
team we had helped each other
to complete the coast to coast
and complete our final D of E
expedition.
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At the end of the Summer Term, the Friday Silver
Walking group undertook its assessment expedition in
The Lake District. We arrived at Grasmere Youth
Hostel on Thursday afternoon with dampened spirits
due to the persistent rain mixed in with the odd thunder
storm and the prospect of having to walk fifty
kilometres soaking wet. The weather forecast in the
lead up to the assessment expedition was at best 70%
chance of rain which had remained consistent
throughout the week. The five teams very quickly
became acclimatised to the Lakes by simply stepping off
the coach. The first challenge was to remain relatively
dry for the short 100 yard walk from the coach drop off
to the front entrance of the youth hostel. An additional
acclimatisation activity was to ‘have a go at Mr Hicks
for making me do this’. Most of the participants scored
very highly with this, with a handful gaining full marks
with this pursuit. Thursday afternoon was spent
‘chilling out’ in the youth hostel, with Team 5 inventing
‘Corridor Cricket’ which is a less popular sport with
the older generation. The rest of the afternoon and
evening was spent sorting kit and preparing for the
demanding three day routes that all five teams were
about to embark on the next day.
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Day 1: Friday 29th June 2012: Grasmere to the Langdale Valley
In the Youth Hostel we woke to (yes you’ve guessed it) rain streaming down the windows and
the prospect of a challenging day out in the hills. With a hearty breakfast consumed, all
twenty nine participants were clearly up for the challenge making an early start. After
breakfast, the rain abated and the morning began well, although it was clear that Team 3
were challenged by the concept of left and right let alone Never Eating Shredded Wheat when
on leaving the Youth Hostel entrance managed to go 180 degrees in the wrong direction.
After some self correction the team managed to get back on track and embark on their long
walk over to the Langdale Valley. Navigationally the other four teams performed very well
from the start, all staying on track. The routes were tough with some going past Easedale
Tarn and over High Raise (762m). Fortunately the appalling rain, thunder and lightning that
was predicted never came which allowed the teams to progress at a very good pace and
arrive at camp in good time for the evening. Although Team 3 had to sort out their
navigational issues during the day they did finish the day well. All of the campsites were wet
underfoot but this did not cause a problem for any of the teams during their stay.
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Day 2: Saturday 30 June 2012: The Langdale Valley to Coniston
The day started well with the usual tour by
assessors of the various campsites. All was
well and spirits were high with the five
teams clearly keen to start their routes from
the Langdale Valley, heading off around
08:00 to make the best of the day ahead.
Although many of the routes that had been
planned were long, all of the participants
stayed positive and the whole of the Friday
Silver Walking group stayed on course. One
member of Team 2 had a stomach problem
and had to take time out ‘on the bench’ for a
couple of hours but it was nice to see him
finish the day with the rest of his team. Team 4 made it into camp just after 14:00, after
walking at a record making pace, ready for some hot food and a good night’s rest. The other
teams followed soon after. Teams 1 and 5 stayed at Yew Tree Farm, the home of Beatrix
Potter for nearly 10 years. With its distinctive setting, it is said that Yew Tree Farm is the
most photographed farm in the Lake District. I cannot imagine a more idyllic setting but for
the image of Team 5 developing another variant of the Old English game of Cricket; ‘Stick
Cricket’ this time which involves as many sticks as possible and a tennis ball. The ‘Yew Tree’
Games did not end there with a couple of members of Team 1 managing to have a wrestling
contest with their tent. There was no overall winner with the tent having broken its pole and
certain members of Team 1 downhearted at the thought of having to sleep in the middle of the
‘Stick Cricket’ pitch with no cover. Needless to say the problem was solved and all twelve
occupants managed a good night’s sleep dreaming of Peter Rabbit.
Day 3: Sunday 1st July: Coniston to Hawkshead
It was pleasing to see the Turkey still alive at Yew Tree Farm the next morning and the
livestock still intact. Clearly the gnocchi served up on the Noddy plate was sufficient for the
evening meal the night before without the need for Team 5 to fashion a spit out of sticks.
All the teams left camp very early to enable them to complete their seven hour routes towards
Hawkshead on the final day. The heavy rain spurred the participants on, all completing their
routes in plenty of time to board the coach ready for the journey back to Oakham.
All five teams have made fantastic progress
this year, both in terms of their navigational
skills and being able to work more closely as
a team. Poor weather has been a challenge
to Friday Silver Walking this year and it has
been impressive the way in which all of the
teams coped so well with the demanding
conditions on each of the expeditions. I look
forward to seeing many of the participants go
on to Gold next year.
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157
Silver Walkers in the Lakes
Most of the Gold Walkers once more
were in Lochinver, when at the start of
July, 30 Oakhamians completed the
expedition section of their Duke of
Edinburgh Award, walking from a
number of very remote youth hostels
situated on the coast of the north-west
Highlands. The planned routes were
extremely arduous, 20km a day across
mountain bogs, an exhausting task that
required incredible levels of perseverance
and constant encouragement from team
mates. Sleeping in the wild had its upsides, as the views were magnificent and without the
distraction of modern life there was time to be alone with their thoughts. Their final
destination was in the heart of Assynt, a spectacular parish of mountains, lochs and beaches.
All involved should feel proud of their achievement, as the journey taken was incredibly
difficult. I have no doubts that in years to come many will still describe the experience as one
of the most difficult challenges that they have ever had to overcome.
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Some Gold Walkers, however, were on Dartmoor.
159
The Bronze Cyclists (above) explored a sodden Shropshire for their qualifying expedition. It
was reported that The heavy rain, followed by persistent drizzle, presented tough challenges
for the teams as they navigated themselves along single track lanes, with high hedges, mud,
manure and tractors, before reaching their boggy camping fields. Although they had to cope
with punctures and a broken chain, thankfully there was not a single fall or crash, and all
had the right clothing to simply cycle on, often still smiling. The conditions certainly gave
them big appetites and then early nights! A big experience for all.
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Monday Bronze Walkers were once again in The Cheviots, the Friday Bronze Walkers were
in the Peak District for their qualifying expeditions, and the CCF Gold Walkers opted for the
Northern Pennines for their qualifying expeditions.
Unfortunately, few reports ever appear in The Oakhamian concerning the other three – or at
Gold four – sections of the Award, but all the participants have to complete their
Volunteering, Physical, Skills and (at Gold) Residential sections in order to gain Bronze,
Silver and Gold Awards. For most Oakhamians, Physical and Skills are part of what they do
outside of the classroom at any rate, and so perhaps their sporting and cultural activities are
reported elsewhere in The Oakhamian. Increasing DofE Volunteering began to be organised
and carried through within the school’s Voluntary Action programme, but the Residential
aspect still remained for the individual Gold candidate to plan and perform through his or her
own efforts.
Volunteering
Winter Term 2012 saw the normal busy expedition training programme – Monday Gold
Walkers in Snowdonia, Friday Gold Walkers in the Peak District, Monday Silver Walkers in
The Yorkshire Dales around Malham, Friday Silver Walkers in the Yorkshire Dales around
Swaledale, Monday Bronze Walkers in Rutland, Friday Bronze Walkers in Nottinghamshire,
Gold Cyclists in Northumberland, Silver Cyclists in the North York Moors, Bronze Cyclists
in Norfolk, Gold Sailors on the Solent, and Silver Canoeists on local rivers.
Exeat witnessed the CCF Gold Walkers training in the Northern Pennines, for their qualifying
expedition was programmed to be in The Falkland Islands during the Christmas vacation;
given the very poor summer and autumn weather in that part of the world in 2012, the group
enjoyed better than expected weather even if the participants found the going unexpectedly
tought, and as a result could look forward to going South.
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163
164
Nine cadets from the CCF successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh Gold expedition
in the Falkland Islands
during the Christmas
break. Taking a route that
started at San Carlos and
incorporated Goose Green
and on towards Fitzroy,
the
two
groups
experienced the full range
of Falklands weather and
battled hard each day.
Once the walking phase
was complete, the cadets
undertook a range of other
activities including tea
with the Governor, some
community work at the
Veterans’ Lodge, and visits to the resident Rapier Battery and the Port & Maritime Squadron.
This really was a “once in a lifetime” experience for all the cadets and represents one of the
most southerly DofE expeditions ever undertaken.
A full report was published on the school’s website:
The long journey from RAF Brize Norton (17 hours via Ascension Island) was completed with a real
sense of anticipation, and our arrival at Mount Pleasant served to highlight just how extraordinary
every aspect of this expedition was to be. Processed onto the Islands in a hangar with an incomplete
C130 Hercules in the background, the party of nine cadets was met by our sponsoring unit (16 Regt
RA - the Resident Rapier Battery), and we were driven to their HQ for the obligatory drivers' brief and
student administration brief before loading up in our hired 4WDs for the journey to Hillside Camp in
Stanley ,our base for the duration of the stay. The one hour
journey along pot-holed shale roads at 40 mph maximum
was a perfect introduction to the barren land which was to
be our staple for the expedition phase over the next four
days. Tired but full of anticipation, we sorted personal
administration and completed last minute group kit and
route arrangements before having a good sleep.
The next morning we headed off west to San Carlos and
spent a productive hour setting up the dynamic for the
expedition phase by visiting Blue Beach cemetery before
setting off over Sussex Mountain for the first of four arduous days across difficult and uneven terrain.
Leaving 'bomb alley' behind us, it was difficult to imagine just how tough this same walk would have
been 30 years ago in the depths of a Falklands Winter.
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Our arrival at Camilla Creek House at the end of this
first day of walking brought the first of our battle
briefs: a look at the 2 Para preparations before the
Battle of Goose Green. It was inspiring to see a
photo in our base reference (Battle For The
Falklands by Max Hastings) showing Lt Col H Jones
giving his final O Group against the very same gorse
line where we were camped. Interesting, too, was
that the owners of Camilla Creek House were both
residents of Goose Green in 1982, but moved out to
be somewhere quieter – extraordinary people!
Day two saw both groups continuing to head south
towards Burntside House, and the second leg
of the day saw the groups follow the B Coy
route across the start-line and into Goose
Green. The walking was pleasant in the clear
skies, but the terrain was difficult and the dead
ground plentiful. Our arrival at the metropolis
that is Goose Green came as a big surprise,
with the shop opening for just two hours a
week, giving a good idea of their unique island
way of life. Setting up camp on the edge of the
isthmus, the mountains to the north turned an
incredible shade of pink in the sunset - a
lasting memory for us all!
Before setting off the following morning on the third leg of our expedition, we had a group tour of
Goose Green and its surrounds, taking in the sheep sheds where Argentine prisoners were kept (and
which still display the letters ‘P.O.W’ and ‘P.G’), the monuments to the Engineers, airmen and Paras
who fell during the battle, and the village hall where the local people were corralled during the
occupation. Again, the memorabilia in the hall will stay with us all for many years. Beautiful as Goose
Green was in late December, there can be no doubt that it must be bitterly exposed and inhospitable
in the southern winter. That Falkland Islanders are tough is a truism that can only be appreciated with
such visits.
Our third leg saw us heading east towards Black Rock House, just west of Mount Pleasant. With the
wind blowing strongly behind our backs, this was the easiest leg of the expedition, and both groups
made good time. A remote camp sheltered from the wind was a pleasant respite, but we left quickly on
the final day, painfully aware that the wind had turned to be against us. The full range of Falklands
weather was experienced on the Friday, with sun and wind ever present, but cloud, fog, hail and sleet
joining us randomly and without more than a few minutes warning. Appropriately, our local assessor
Sgt Barlow declared our expedition complete at the end of this fourth day during which we had had to
work hardest, but the relief of completion was surprisingly emotional as, I guess, all DofE expeditions
are.
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We punctuated our return to Stanley with a reflective
visit to Fitzroy and Bluff Cove, finding it difficult to
imagine just how horrendous the scene must have
been in 1982. Tiredness and reflection made it a
quiet visit. Taking in a monstrous flock of sheep on
the way back, we returned to Hillside, to a quick can
of beer and to a long and deserved sleep in a real
bed!
The second element of the trip was a combination of military visit, tourist entertainment, and
community service work. Saturday saw the team split into two groups: the first spent the morning
mountain-biking around Surf Bay and the Stanley airport region. It was our first peak at penguins, and
an essential ingredient of any trip to The Falkland Islands. Though blustery, it was a really good way to
see the area around Stanley. In the afternoon, that group walked over to Liberty Lodge, the veterans'
lodge at the edge of the town that is run by SAMA82 and the FVF. We had arranged to do some
community work by painting the decking outside, and conditions were ideal. Whilst doing this, one of
the veterans who happened to be staying at the Lodge talked to us about his experiences during the
167
1982 conflict. He was an awesome guy - Cpl Harry Siddall MM - who had fought with 45 Cdo on Two
Sisters. We could all have listened to him for hours but, alas, we had shopping to do!!
On Sunday we visited the Resident Rapier Battery to get a taste of how the Islands are defended, and to
see what life is like at the sharp end of air defence capability. The guys of 16 Regt were informative,
engaging and friendly; we had seen a number of them at the start of our visit, but not in 'operational
mode.' The afternoon took us near Harriet Beach for a chance to see the Southern coast. It was a
strange feeling knowing that, as we looked over a beautifully calm South Atlantic Ocean, the next land
mass was the Antarctic. In the evening we had the Tour Dinner in the poshest (if, perhaps, only) hotel
in town. Knowing where we were in the world, the food, the company and the ambience of the dinner
was quite amazing. Memories of this outstanding evening will live with us all for many years.
Monday saw some real highlights from the 'tour' phase of the trip. Firstly, we had arranged to meet His
Excellency the Governor, Nigel Haywood, in his
Residence at Government House. Following an open
discussion over tea about the islands, their future,
their economy, the political system and the upcoming
referendum, we were taken for a tour of the House.
The famous snooker table is signed underneath in
chalk by every guest who visits the House, and it was
a privilege for us to add our own names alongside
many famous (and some very famous) previous
signatures. There will now be a permanent record of
our visit to Stanley, not 20 yards from the ceremonial
flag post.
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Megallanic Penguin Spheniscus magellanicus
169
In the afternoon we completed the full Battlefield Tour of Mount Harriet. Though we had walked the
San Carlos to Goose Green route taken by 2 Para, this was our first real look at a battlefield site 'closeup’. For some two hours, Lt Brady gave us the full battle picture, and the rugged conditions made it
easy to sense just how bitter the fighting by 42 Cdo had been on the night of 11th June 1982. Being
hundreds of miles from the nearest adjacent land falls, the battlefield sites on the hills around Port
Stanley have been preserved as if they had taken place not more than a year or two ago. The artefacts
of war still lay all around providing chilling detail.
And so to our final meals and an early night before an 0445hrs departure in the morning for the
airport. The early moments of the journey home were accompanied by a pair of Typhoon aircraft which
sat on either wing in a show of proud ability. As a final gesture before we settled into our
uncomfortable flight back to Blighty, this couldn't have been better.
As a post-script to the amazing trip, our thanks must go to Major Taylor and Captain Wright for their
in excess of two years of planning. As they have been keen to keep telling us, we really don't yet know
just how lucky we have been! Formal thanks, too, to Major Al Prescott and to Sgt Des Barlow for
accompanying us as DofE assessors. It was great to have a pair of neutral adults, particularly during
the more 'emotional' parts of the walk. To the support and encouragement of all those who have given
us their time and efforts: Major-General Thompson and Commodore Clapp who set the scene with
their outstanding presentation in School; to the staff at Alrewas Memorial Arboretum whose Falklands
garden we visited en route to our practice expedition; to the staff at Robin Hood airport who take such
care of the Vulcan bomber that we visited to get a sense of the awesome power and strategy needed to
get things so far south so efficiently, and to Brigadier Aldridge (Commander, BFSAI) whose islands we
trampled all over, we would all like to express our grateful thanks.
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172
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It is likely that the bitterly cold and snowy Service Weekend in the Spring Term of 2013
witnessed tougher weather conditions than those experienced in The Falklands. However, the
Silver Walkers survived and prospered in the North York Moors and the Dark Peak, the
Bronze Walkers suffered in the White Peak, Silver Cyclists swept around the Peak District,
Bronze Cyclists were in gentler Rutland, the Silver canoeists undertook their qualifying
expedition in the River Tweed (below), and the Gold Sailors crossed the English Channel.
The Canoeing expedition: Seven pupils successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh
Silver Qualifying Canoeing Expedition during the service weekend. The weather was very
cold, windy and quite snowy; all the things you don’t need when paddling a canoe full of kit.
However, the boys certainly rose to the challenge. They used their training well, scouting
rapids and river obstructions such as fallen trees before choosing a safe line to paddle. The
highlight of the trip was tacking the weir at Merton Cauld in Rutherford. There was a lot of
big, bouncy water that was a bit of a challenge and certainly kept them all warm! The rapids
at Markestoun were the hardest section the pupils tackled. It is a quite technical Grade 3
which some of the pupils chose to portage. Two of the boats had a go. One of them managed
half the rapid whilst the other boat made it down in excellent style. It was fantastic to see how
well Barney Carr and Oren Patel-Champion controlled their boat. They made it look quite
easy, but both were absolutely buzzing when they made the final gap. I think they all could
see why open boating is so exciting and rewarding. Overall, it was a fantastic trip. The pupils
managed two nights wild camping on the river, one of these on an island, which was another
one of their highlights.
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Silver Walking Practice Expedition in the Peak District
Pupils tested their navigational skills in cold temperatures and poor visibility during their Silver
walking practice expedition in the Peak District. In total, 27 pupils took part in the Service Weekend
expedition. The participants were superb all weekend, keeping their spirits high and showing real
determination.
Saturday
All of the teams set off early on Saturday morning determined to complete their routes in good time
and get into camp by early afternoon. Despite the poor weather, which included sleet, snow and
freezing hill fog, all participants walked at a fast pace (3-4km/hr.) and completed their challenging
routes by 16:00 that day.
Navigational training, using a compass and map and a GPS as further guidance, remained the main
aim of the day. None of the routes were altered that day, even though many of them included the
tough challenges of climbing Jacobs’s Ladder and walking up and across the ridge over by Mam Tor.
Sunday
On Sunday the teams woke to freezing weather conditions and snow falling at an increasing rate. Some
of the routes were altered in light of this with the exception of Team 2 which, not put off by the
weather, walked up and over Hollins Cross and along the ridge before climbing down into Castleton.
The other five teams also walked well on Sunday. It is clear that all of their navigational skills have
dramatically improved, as has their confidence in dealing with challenging terrain and adverse weather
conditions.
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178
For the first time in recorded history, certainly since 1970, and
perhaps for the first time ever, most activity in the first week of
the Easter vacation had to be cancelled for reasons of safety,
so bad was the “spring” weather: Silver walking qualifying
expeditions to the Lake District, Gold walking practice
expeditions to the Yorkshire Dales, and Silver cycling qualifying
expeditions to Wales. However, Dartmoor was “fine enough”
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for some Gold Walking practice expeditions: snow did not affect Dartmoor and so the groups were
able to complete their practice expeditions as planned: The heavy rain in the region prior to our
arrival meant that alternative bad weather plans were executed. The groups demonstrated sound
navigational skills in the thick fog, which lasted into the second day of the expedition. As the fog was
then replaced by freezing temperatures, groups worked tightly together and spirits were high
throughout most of the expedition.
Summer Term, then, was even busier than usual. Half the Gold Walking Section had to fit in a
practice in the Yorkshire Dales, both Silver Walking Sections completed their qualifying expeditions
in various parts of the Lake District, Gold Cycling engaged on its “normal” coast to coast exercise (but
this time from Blackpool to Whitby), Bronze Cycling visited Shropshire, the Bronze Walking Sections
were in The Cheviots and the Peak District, and the Gold Walking Sections were in north-west
Scotland, as ever.
The Coast to Coast Gold Cycling report: On Saturday 22nd June we left for our Coast to Coast
journey. We all had mixed emotions following our previous practice expeditions: excitement and
anxiety. We started from Blackpool central pier the following day. It was cold and misty with force 8
waves preventing us from being able to dip our bikes in the water at the start of our expedition. Our
team of - Robert Hampton, Thomas Hawkins, Charlie McGivern, Holly Palmer, Lisa Schneider and
Alex Smith - were packed and ready to face the task we had ahead of us. Across the four days we
experienced good weather unlike our previous practice in March. We battled different terrain from
dirt tracks, vertical rock paths, fords and fields. We faced the challenging 200m climb up Limber Hill
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and many more! The morale of the group throughout the expedition was constantly high, with
everyone being cheerful and encouraging. The group worked well in all areas with everyone having
their own skills to bring. We finished on Wednesday afternoon at Robin Hood’s Bay where we dipped
our bikes in the water and the boys went for a swim in the freezing water. It was then over to the
Youth Hostel for a warm shower before going to the local Italian to celebrate. We saw beautiful
scenes, amazing sites and have made some lasting memories. We will all miss DofE; it has been a
fantastic experience and we have all learned so much in the process.
One of the Gold Walking Groups in Lochinver in summer 2013
Even so, the Silver Cycling Qualifying expedition had to be left over to the Winter Term Service
Weekend, when the group cycled across Wales. Meanwhile the normal practice ventures went
ahead for all the other groups – Gold Walking Monday in Snowdonia and Gold Walking Friday in the
Dark Peak; Silver Walking Monday in the southern Yorkshire Dales and Friday and the northern
Yorkshire Dales; Bronze Walking (both Monday and Friday) in Rutland; Gold Sailing on the Solent;
Silver Cycling in the North York Moors and Bronze Cycling in Norfolk; and Bronze Canoeing in Upper
Teesdale. The weather was better in the north than in the midlands!
181
The Canoeing Trip:
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183
184
185
186
The Spring Term 2014 Service Week-end enjoyed excellent weather all over the country, much of it
visited by Oakham groups. Bronze Walking (Monday) was in the White Peak with an offshoot in the
Cotswolds while Bronze Walking (Friday) was in Rutland; Silver (Monday) was in the North York
Moors and Silver (Friday) on the Dark Peak; Gold Walkers stayed at home for an intensive
mountaineering first aid course. Bronze Cyclists were all around Rutland, Silver Cyclists along the
Viking Way in Lincolnshire, and Gold Cyclists in the Yorkshire Dales.
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The Canoeing Practice in the Yorkshire
Dales
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The two Gold Walking sections were on their final practice in Dartmoor (Monday) and the Yorkshire
Dales (Friday) at the beginning of the Easter vacation and Gold Sailing went to and fro across the
English Channel in preparation for their summer qualifying venture on the Norfolk Broads, while the
six groups of the Silver Walking (Monday) section – under the leadership of Pat Evans for the last
time – successfully undertook their qualifying expedition in the Lake District, this year thankfully
without deep snow but in solid sunshine with no rain, while at the end of the vacation the Gold
Cyclists undertook their qualifying venture coast to coast.
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Qualifyng expedtons took place at the end of the Summer Term and into the vacation for Gold
Sailing on the Norfolk Broads, Gold Walking n Lochinver, Silver Walking (Friday) in the Lake District,
Silver Cycling in North Wales, Bronze Cycling in Shropshire, Bronze Waling (Monday A) in The
Cheviots, Bronze Walking (Monday B) in the Peak District, Bronze Walkng (Friday) in the Peak
District, while the CCF Gold held a practice in the North Pennines and then its qualifying expeditions
n Spain.
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The DUKE of EDINBURGH’s AWARD MEDALISTS AT OAKHAM SCHOOL
Records are incomplete up to and including 1975; it is known that by the beginning of 1976 there were at least 118 Bronze, at least 70
Silver, and at least 46 Gold, with all these names being held; there may well have been more. Since January 1976 the names of all award
holders (Bronze, Silver and Gold) are held.
Year
Bronze
Silver
Gold
Total
____________________________________________________________________________________________
1960-75
118
70
46
234
1976
24
26
12
62
1977
37
22
17
76
1978
45
28
7
80
1979
38
29
20
87
1980
25
27
21
73
1981
51
30
27
108
1982
27
32
30
89
1983
80
43
32
155
1984
52
38
33
123
1985
63
60
24
147
1986
66
52
49
167
1987
83
63
43
189
1988
65
58
31
154
1989
67
53
52
172
1990
63
62
40
165
1991
57
38
59
154
1992
101
80
51
232
1993
71
66
72
209
1994
78
41
56
175
1995
87
64
50
201
1996
71
80
47
198
1997
68
66
70
204
1998
59
87
52
198
1999
43
39
44
126
2000
48
45
55
148
2001
25
14
19
58
2002
21
10
21
52
2003
66
53
28
147
2004
47
39
28
114
2005
73
51
30
154
2006
48
36
41
125
2007
50
27
40
117
2008
33
23
35
91
2009
64
35
19
118
2010
40
24
32
96
2011
51
39
33
123
2012
93
54
44
191
2013
29
45
34
108
Totals
2237
1749
1444
5430
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Gold Award Winners : 1960 - 1975 (List not necessarily complete)
R.J. Merriman, Thomas Casswell, Nicholas Perryman, Phillip Wilson, Christopher J. Palmer, Keith Thompson,
Stephen Cory, Maarten Versteeg, Roger Parker, Richard Drabble, Brian (B.W.) Kenworthy, Iain (I.M.) Jones,
Jonathan (J.J.) Hellyer-Jones, Bruce (A.B.) Strickland, Francis Howard, J.R. Towns, Michael (M.G.) Anderson,
Andrew Watkin, Philip Strawson, Hugh Collingwood, Peter Ramsay, Christopher Lang, Adam (C.A.) Hyde,
Simon Pennell, David Lord, Geoffrey (G.R.) Edwards, Peter (P.J.) Gregory, Alan (A.W.) Hardy, Henry Knibb,
Anthony (A.P.) Barber, D.J. Ingram, J.H. Anderson, R.R. Baker, M.K. Waistell, P.R. Kerby, C.C. Shields,
G.R. Houghton, Ken Alloway, D.A.Thomas, A.J.Jones, T.W.D. (Timothy) Harris, John Strawson, Joseph Adams,
Mark Leaning, Christopher Cutteridge, John Sleightholme (46)
Silver Award Winners : 1960 – 1975 (list not necessarily complete)
D.W.James, M.K.Waistell, S.B.Rear, J.J.Smith, P.Skekleton, C. P. Machin, S. M. Marland, M. S. Wildbur,
R.D.Martin, P. W. Smedley, D. C. Abbott, T. B. Barrington, D. J. Ingram, S. R. Bennett, T. A. King, D. F. Longmate,
G. Keil, F. J. Brawn, P. R. Kerby, C. N. Gaydon, L. B. Pachany, E. P. M. Randell,C. C. Shields, J. H. Anderson,
Alan (A.W.) Hardy, Bruce (A.B.) Stickland, Jonathan (J.J.) Hellyer-Jones, Charles (C.E.) Rickard,
Alastair (A.S.) Laird, Francis (F.W.G.) Howard, Jonathon (J.R.) Tarlton, Adam (C.A.) Hyde,
Christopher (C.J.) Cutteridge, Henry (H.F.) Knibb, Roger Parker, David McGibbon, John Kerr, Andrew Phillips,
Timothy Podd, Stephen Mitchell, Mark Underwood, John Lawrence, Timothy P. Young, Philip Chandler,
Stephen Edwards, David Casswell, Stephen Jarvis, William (W.L.) Smith, Raymond Powell, Thomas Casswell,
Nicholas Perryman, Phillip Wilson, Christopher J. Palmer, Keith Thompson, Stephen Cory, Maarten Versteeg,
Richard Drabble, Michael Anderson, Andrew Watkin, Philip Strawson, Hugh Collingwood, Peter Ramsay,
Christopher Lang, Simon Pennell, David Lord, Geoffrey Edwards, Peter Gregory, Ken Alloway, T.W.D. (Timothy)
Harris, John Strawson (70)
Bronze Award Winners : 1960- 1975 (list not necessarily complete)
R.D.Smith, M.D.S.Evans, J.G.Hobbs, D.F.Dickens, A.J.S.Sutcliffe, J.F.H.Ashworth, Stephen Billyeald, J.R.Towns,
A.R.Newsum, P.J.Woods, A.N.Hall, D.A.Thomas, J.L.Begg, M.B.Oliver, R.J.Merriman, W.D.Lloyd-Davies,
David McGibbon, Timothy Podd, Stephen Mitchell, A. Rowe, Marcus Somerville-Jacklin, Robin Thompson,
E. Michael Thompson, T. P. (Timothy) Young, J. Canham, A. S. (Alasdair) Thorpe, J. A. (Jonathan Arthur)
Chapman, D. S. Roberts, I. F. Ibbetson, T. North, Martin Strawson, P. Spiby, Nicholas Butterwick, R. Hodgson,
J. Postlethwaite, Neil Crawford, Robert Davidson, P. Cory, M. Harbord, R. S. Bennett, I. A. Bradshaw,
A. M. D. Bett, T. G. Vaulkhard, P. A. Phipps, V. H. Biraben, P. J. Collier, D. R. Collins, P. N. Davis, S. A. Golby,
P. J. Lyth, D. C. Walker, J. R. Walker, C. J. McDowell, N. E. Grimshaw, K. G. Tyers, R. W. Vick, A. G. Gilbertson,
W. J. K. Walker, N. S. MacDonald, W. F. Whysall, A. R. Grove, J. C. D. Clarkson, E. R. Orton, T. O. Lebbon,
T. D. Noel-Johnson, A. P. J. Shelmerdine, I. K. Starkey, P. S. Owen, S. P. Daniels, J. M. Avery, J. H. Anderson,
Mark Underwood, John Kerr, John Lawrence, Philip Chandler, Stephen Edwards, David Casswell,
Stephen Jarvis, W.L. (William) Smith, Andrew Phillips, Raymond Powell, Thomas Casswell, Nicholas Perryman,
Phillip Wilson, Christopher J. Palmer, Keith Thompson, Stephen Cory, Maarten Versteeg, Roger Parker,
Richard Drabble, Michael Anderson, Andrew Watkin, Philip Strawson, Hugh Collingwood, Peter Ramsay,
Christopher Lang, C. Adam Hyde, Simon Pennell, David Lord, Geoffrey Edwards, Peter Gregory, Alan Hardy,
Henry Knibb, Ken Alloway, Ian O'Connor, Harry Banks, Stephen Frost, Anthony O'Donnell, Anthony Rome,
Stephen Young, Mark Glover, Paul Churchouse, Jonathan Stack, William Phillips, Simon Staton, S.M.Marland,
L.Keil, John Strawson (118)
192
Award Winners 1976
Gold Mark Underwood, John Kerr, John Lawrence, E. Michael Thompson, Timothy Young, Philip Chandler,
Stephen Edwards, David Casswell, Stephen Jarvis, William Smith, Andrew Phillips, Raymond Powell (12)
Silver William Smith, Stephen Jarvis, E. Michael Thompson, Timothy Young, Michael G. Thompson,
Ian O'Connor, John Lawrence, Harry Banks, Stephen Frost, Anthony O'Donnell, Anthony Rome,
Marcus Somerville-Jacklin, Stephen Young, Robin Thompson, Adam Rodgers, Alasdair Thorpe, James Tointon,
Anthony Morley, Martin Strawson, Mark Glover, Paul Churchouse, (Jonathan) Arthur Chapman, Jonathan
Stack, Neil Crawford, William Phillips, Simon Staton (26)
Bronze John Graves, Anthony Morley, Adam Rodgers, James Tointon, Michael G. Thompson, Philip Smith,
Russell Packham, Charles Beteson, Paul Holmes, Timothy Birkett, Stephen Webster, Christopher Newsholme,
James Everitt, Nicholas Lowe, Jonathan Davies, Michael Casswell, Jonathan Saunders, Edward Bird,
Michael S. Thompson, Timothy Wilson, Peter van Smirren, John Anderson, Andrew Noton, Robert Bernstein
(24)
Award Winners 1977
Gold Timothy Podd, David McGibbon, Robin Thompson, Mary Melly, Simon Staton, (Jonathan) Arthur
Chapman, Jeremy Bromfield, Alasdair Thorpe, Stephen Mitchell, Mark Glover, Paul Churchouse, Martin
Strawson, Stephen Roberts, Nicholas Wainwright, Robert Davidson, Robert Hodgson, Neil Crawford (17)
Silver Robert Hodgson, Robert Davidson, Stephen Roberts, Lynn Bilton, Rosemary Whitney, Helen Leeson,
Angela Wright, Nicholas Butterwick, Michael G. Thompson, Paul Holmes, Nicholas Lowe, Penny Wade,
Jonathan Saunders, Stephen Webster, Keith McGibbon, Robert Bernstein, David Chapman, Peter van Smirren,
Edward Bird, John Anderson, Philip Smith, Meyrick Chapman (22)
Bronze Karen Toseland, Lucinda Kennedy, Caroline Herrin, Jane Anderson, Lucinda Hanson, Charlotte Wylam,
Karen Veal, Joanne Osborn, Margaret Cobb, Athea Whittam, Linsey McDonald, Nicola Clarke, Lucy Gardner,
Karen Brown, John Patrick, Nicholas North, John Bird, Paul Warren, Christopher Done, Simon Downs,
Alan Speirs, Philip Hulme, Nigel Staton, Nigel Rome, Jonathon Green, Duncan Kingham, Matthew Day, John
Mundy, Steven Tideswell, Nigel Reeves, Peter Davies, Christopher Dunnington, Stephen Hardy, Mark Rollinson,
Adam Mitchell, Michael Turney, Roger Bates (37)
Award Winners 1978
Gold Nicholas Drabble, Jonathan Walker, Anthony O'Donnell, Paul Holmes, Nicholas Butterwick,
Nicholas Lowe, Edward Bird (7)
Silver Timothy Birkett, Michael Casswell, Philip Hulme, Steven Hardy, Duncan Kingham, Chris Done,
Nigel Rome, John Patrick, Simon Downs, Adam Mitchell, Jonathan Green, Nigel Staton, Mark Rollinson,
Nicholas Forbes, Roger Bates, Nigel Reeves, Michael Turney, Julie Hawkins, Marjorie Powell, Matthew Day,
Johanna Herrin, Ursula Collie, Timothy Wilson, Dora Flitterman, Peter Davies, John Mundy, Steven Tideswell,
Alan Speirs (28)
Bronze Stuart Collins, Peter Barnes, Anthony Goodger, Anthony Fasham, Richard Wilson, James Ross,
Jonathan Tipler, Richard Morris, Keith Thompson, Chris Veal, Chris Rundle, Mark Fraser, Charles Rae,
Patrick Ivens, Ian Thorpe, Anthony Lang, Alan Strawson, Alastair Yule, Timothy Lloyd, Louise Newby, Deborah
Beanland, Claire Wilson-Price, Judith Randall, Rachel Dybeck, Jane Moffat, Elle Batchelor, Jane Ratcliffe,
Helen Davis, Hannah Bull, Heidi Dunnill, Emma Jordan, Linda Giles, Kathryn Austen, Delia Waites, Jane Ralls,
Philippa Bull, Clare Ballantyne, Stephen Clifton, Andrew Underwood, Timothy Wade, Vivian Wainwright,
Michael Helmy, Janet Edwards, John Gibb, Ross Chapman (45)
193
Award Winners 1979
Gold Robert Bernstein, Stephen Webster, Jonathan Saunders, John Anderson, Philip Smith, Marjorie Powell,
Johanna Herrin, Jane Martin, Michael Thompson, Keith McGibbon, Duncan Kingham, Matthew Day,
Mark Rollinson, Stephen Hardy, Nigel Reeves, Jane Anderson, Peter Davies, Chris Done, Adam Mitchell,
Alan Speirs (20)
Silver Charlotte Wylam, Caroline Herrin, Lucinda Hanson, Karen Veal, Ann Backhouse, Lucinda Kennedy,
Nicola Clarke, Lucy Gardner, Jane Anderson, Margaret Cobb, Richard Morris, Anthony Fasham, Timothy Wade,
Chris Rundle, Alan Strawson, Anthony Lang, Ian Thorpe, Keith Thompson, Andrew Underwood,
Vivian Wainwright, Ross Chapman, Peter Barnes, Patrick Ivens, Charles Rae, Alastair Yule, Timothy Lloyd,
Michael Helmy, Helen Davis, Anthony Goodger (29)
Bronze Philippa Bacon, Francis Powell, Nicholas Traylen, Jonathan Rohll, Nigel Melly, Guy Malpas, Michael
Watchorn, Charles Nelstrop, William Paton, John Sheffield, Timothy Meakin, Nigel Smith, Geoffrey Wright,
Paul Fasham, Simon England, Nigel Sardeson, Toby Short, Timothy Jones, Penny Kempe, Gillian Anderson,
Helen Baines, Belinda Harris, Vicki Baker, Pauline Ng, Dawn Summerton, Samantha Culshaw, Annabel Lodge,
Luisa McLean, David Kingdom, Richard Wilson, Christopher Beer, Martin Speirs, Andrew Jacobs, Andrew
Morley, Michael Hudson, David Price, Oliver Close, Stephen Wilson (38)
Award Winners 1980
Gold Philip Laws, Peter Saunders, Nicholas Forbes, Jonathan Green, David Chapman, Meyrick Chapman,
Anthony Morley, Lucy Gardner, Jill White, John Mundy, Ann Backhouse, Michael Turney, Anthony Lang,
Simon Downs, Alan Strawson, Ian Thorpe, Charles Rae, Candy Herrin, Helen Davis, Patrick Ivens, Simon Staton
(21)
Silver Jonathan Dunn, Stuart Collins, Rupert Lowe, James Brooke, Stephen Clifton, Richard Wilson,
Christopher Veal, Toby Short, John Sheffield, Oliver Close, Nicholas Traylen, Guy Malpas, Simon England,
Michael Watchorn, William Paton, Nigel Melly, Francis Powell, Christopher Beer, Andrew Jacobs,
Charles Nelstrop, Jonathan Rohll, Nigel Sardeson, Stephen Wilson, Geoffrey Wright, Nigel Smith,
David Anderson, Claire Wilson-Price (27)
Bronze Richard Parkin, David Anderson, Julian Mobbs, David Thorpe, Stuart Ridgeway, Oliver Wheatcroft,
James Williams, Mark Horwood, Nicholas Lane, Paul Battersby, Katsumi Miki, Jonathan Smith, Justin Faulkner,
Jonathan Paige, David Peck, Simon Leeds, Simon Derry, Thomas Heap, Jonathan Reeves,Paul Clegg, James Vale,
Matthew Hannah, Andrew Hodgson, Mary-Clare Sowerby, Martin Rutter (25)
Award Winners 1981
Gold Andrew Underwood, Keith Thompson, Gillian Johnstone, Stuart Collins, Jonathan Dunn, James Brooke,
Rupert Lowe, Richard Wilson, Michael Helmy, Alastair Yule, Guy Malpas, Timothy Wilson, Michael Watchorn,
David Anderson, Jane Money, Francis Powell, Christopher Veal, Timothy Wade, John Sheffield, David Price,
Charles Nelstrop, Christopher Beer, Stephen Wilson, Anthony Goodger, Oliver Close, Geoffrey Wright,
Belinda Harris (27)
Silver Rupert Lewis, Rachel Dybeck, David Kingdom, Timothy Jones, David Price, Julian Mobbs, Mun Wai Lee,
Jonathan Smith, Nicholas Lane, Simon Leeds, Jonathan Reeves, Mark Horwood, Rosalyn Sands, Matthew
Hannah, David Peck, Andrew Hodgson, Martin Rutter, Katsumi Miki, Oliver Wheatcroft, Caroline Mawer,
Frances Davies, Belinda Harris, Anne O'Brian, Celia Turner, Rachel Stables, Paul Clegg, Minouche Murdoch,
Mary-Clare Sowerby, Georgina Back, Rebecca Newman (30)
Bronze Minouche Murdoch, Anne O'Brien, Frances Davies, Gillian McGibbon, Georgina Back, Rachel Stables,
Caroline Mawer, Celia Turner, Fiona Keys, Isabel Hanmer, Rosalyn Sands, Stephen Cotton, Peter Thompson,
Andrew McCulloch, Simon Ratcliffe, Simon Stevens, Giles Houston, Andrew Crowston, Anthony (Tony)
Chapman, Andrew McLure, Christopher Wright, Paul Crowther, Shawn Whyman, Christopher Watson, Robert
194
Shaw, Tristan Mawdsley, Sacha Newley, Andrew Annett, Jeremy Allman, Mark Sardeson, Tuesday Hodgson,
Sally Eminson, Jane Bilton, Juliet Greer, Alison Bagley, Claire Beard, Emma Menzies, Polly Richards,
Mandy Moore, Emma Moss, Alison Champion, Kim Murray, Sarah Thomas, Jane Drapkin, Caroline Dibben,
Sarah Popple, Alasdair Lawson-Dick, Fouad Hashem, Simon Stonehouse, Peggy Crossman, Benjamin Watson
(51)
Award Winners 1982
Gold Alison Ingoldby, Rachel Dybeck, William Paton, Nigel Sardeson, Rosalyn Sands, Susan Irvine,
Claire Wilson-Price, Simon England, Dawn Summerton, Julian Mobbs, Paul Fasham, Andrew Jacobs,
Timothy Jones, Sarah Joynson, Steven Whyman, Nicola Watson, Ross Chapman, Georgina Back, Frances Davies,
Nigel Smith, Briony Copeley-Williams, Anne O'Brian, Jonathan Reeves, Simon Leeds, David Peck,
Andrew Hodgson, Mark Horwood, Matthew Keene, Matthew Hannah, Paul Clegg (30)
Silver Matthew Keene, Paul Fasham, Delia Waites, Andrew McLure, Tony Chapman, Robert Shaw,
Stephen Cotton, Alasdair Lawson-Dick, Willem van Es, Tristan Maudsley, Peter Thompson, Simon Stonehouse,
Jeremy Allman, Mark Sardeson, Christopher Watson, Giles Houston, Paul Crowther, Chris Wright, Jane Bilton,
Helen Bayliss, Jane Drapkin, Caroline Dibben, Juliet Greer, Alison Bagley, Simon Derry, Wendy Lyle,
Gillian England, Sarah Popple, Clare Maw, Andrew McCulloch, Fouad Hashem, Jon Steele (32)
Bronze Clare Maw, Robert Epton, Edward Crookes, Andrew Horwood, Andrew Jones, Mark Westwood,
Nicholas Dunn, Guy Palmer, Robert Davies, Ross Palmer, Matthew Woolacott, Michael Baker, Charles Taylor,
Timothy Turner, Tony Paulson, Martin Belson, Michael Swallow, Matthew Pease, Hugh Paton, Gillian Hatton,
Thomas Lee, Robin Smith, Susan Wright, Steven Wagstaff, Janet Douche, Rachel Price, Susan Botting (27)
Award Winners 1983
Gold Caroline Mawer, Minouche Murdoch, Celia Turner, Oliver Wheatcroft, Margot Anderson,
Jonathan Smith, Simon Derry, Mun Wei Lee, Martin Rutter, Colin Farr, Bridget Holder, Katsumi Miki,
Paul Hastings, Robert Shaw, Stephen Cotton, Alison Bagley, Deborah Maddern, Tristan Mawdsley,
Sarah Popple, Helen Bayliss, Jon Steele, Fouad Hashem, Claire Beard, Jan Drapkin, Andrew McLure,
Tuesday Hodgson, Mark Sardeson, Juliet Greer, Tony Chapman, James Wratten, Alasdair Lawson-Dick,
Andrew Annett (32)
Silver Helen Fulford, Emma Ford, Simon Stevens, Andrew Annett, Matthew Yates, Tuesday Hodgson,
Miles Linney, Charles Calvert, Jonathan Pike, Andrew Jones, Edward Crookes, Thomas Lee, Guy Eames,
Jon Dodel, Emma Menzies, Nicholas Dunn, Mark Botteley, Jonathan Watts, Matthew Woolacott, Ross Palmer,
Shaun Whyman, Hugh Paton, Martin Belson, Matthew Pease, Andrew Horwood, Lorraine Noble, Anne Borrill,
Charles Taylor, Tony Paulson, Michael Swallow, Nicholas Wilson, Janet Douche, Mark Westwood,
Susan Wright, Claire Beard, Simon Davies, Guy Palmer, Richard Anderson, Judith Parkin, Susan Botting,
Gillian Hatton, Timothy Turner, Jessica Harrison (43)
Bronze Anne Borrill, Richard Anderson, Nicholas Wilson, Matthew Yates, Jonathan Pike, Lorraine Noble,
Matthew Buxton, Charles Foley, Nigel Harris, Simon Taylor, Richard Viney, Colin Watson, Justin Wheatcroft,
Dominic Burke, Philip Saxby, Nicholas Cotton, Justin a'Brook, Stephano Moro, Charles Knowles,
Stephen Deakin, John Davey, Robert Borrill, Simon Crowe, Richard Sullivan, Darren Taylor, Robert Morley,
Nicholas Mendham, Benjamin Ong, Frank Cooke, Alex Hill, Richard Williams, Michael Granger, Simon Popple,
Paul Fletcher, Sean Fitzgerald, Roger Hancock, Richard Archer, James White, Gethin Maddocks, Richard Jones,
Malcolm Fisk, Paul Kingsley, Vicky Russell, Nigel Patrick, Justin Blackmore, Robert Sanderson, Nicholas Holt,
Grant Murray, Patrick McIntyre, Christopher Spencer, James Macdonald, Mark Wood, Joanna Gray,
Penny Lancaster, Sarah Soffe, Amanda Webb, Stephanie Gibbins, Jane Phillips, Dawn Stonehouse, Deborah
Forsyth, Justine Palmer, Louise Morris, Anna Markham, Clare Arnison-Newgass, Claire Stuart, Wendy Gilliver,
Katie Hawtin, Kate Riley, Corinne Richards, Susan Storer, Sarah Ingoldby, Hilary Hunter, Jo Watson,
Helene Eley, Judith Parkin, Emma Part, Julie Collins, Cardine French, Julia Groocock, Matthew Raven (80)
195
Award Winners 1984
Gold Sarah Thomas, Kim Murray, Clare Maw, Emma Menzies, Giles Houston, Gillian England,
Christopher Wright, William Draper, Chris Watson, Peter Thompson, Helen Fulford, Jane Miller, John Patrick,
Michael Swallow, Matthew Yates, Jon Dodel, Ross Palmer, Jonathan Watts, Mark Botteley, Robert Davies,
Andrew Jones, Charles Taylor, Miles Linney, Charles Calvert, Thomas Lee, Andrew Horwood, Edward Crookes,
Hugh Paton, Susan Wright, Jessica Harrison, Susan Botting, Guy Palmer, Nick Wilson (33)
Silver Sarah Thomas, Kim Murray, Steven Wagstaff, Simon Taylor, James White, Richard Viney, Nigel Harris,
Richard Sullivan, Richard Archer, Nicholas Mendham, Alex Hill, Matthew Buxton, Nicholas Cotton,
Darren Taylor, Gethin Maddocks, Colin Watson, Robert Borrill, Simon Crowe, Charles Knowles, Stephen Deakin,
Benjamin Ong, Penny Lancaster, Frank Cooke, Nigel Patrick, Dom Burke, Justin Wheatcroft, Richard Williams,
Roger Hancock, Justin Blackmore, Sarah Soffe, Charles Foley, James MacDonald, Paul Kingsley, Paul Fletcher,
Paul Carson, John Davey, Wendy Gilliver, Grant Murray (38)
Bronze Alastair England, William Burgess, Mark Young, Stephen Wiltcher, David Webb, Charles Brooke,
Andrew Brown, Timothy Hill, Mark Astbury, Mark Wong, Nicholas Grice, Charles Foster, Richard Clowes,
Philip Rook, Michael Gromett, Philip Hughes, Warwick Pugh, Ian Derry, Simon Millhouse, Philip Neild, James
Westwood, Simon Smith, Jonathan Gidney, David Arnott, Ben Walsgrove, Nicholas Hall, David Rees, Justin
Davies, Adrian Martin, Roger Ifie, Nigel Maw, Adrian den Hartog, Giles Wilson, Ian Speirs, Ben Collins, Peter
O'Brien, Jonathan Case, Rebecca Farmer, Sophie Lee, Sarah Bennett, Kate Done, Claire Hatton, Kirsten Slack,
Alisa Panton, Clare Eames, Clare Cousins, Anne Groocock, Rebecca Black, Susie Burt, Andrea Bishop, Lesley
Nowell, Emma Hawthorne (52)
Award Winners 1985
Gold Janet Douche, Simon Stonehouse, Barbara Jameson, Lorraine Noble, Matthew Woollacott,
William Westwood, Gillian Hatton, Nicholas Dunn, Philippa Seckington, Richard Archer, Colin Watson,
Simon Crowe, Ann Borrill, Nigel Patrick, James White, Sarah Soffe, Penny Lancaster, Amanda Webb,
Joanna Grey, Nigel Harris, James MacDonald, Jane Crossman, Sarah Ingoldby, Charles Knowles (24)
Silver Claire Arnison-Newgass, Joanna Grey, Nicholas Summers, Justine Palmer, Stephano Moro,
Katie Hawtin, Jane Crossman, Corinna Richards, Emma Part, Karen Slack, Alastair England, David Webb,
Mark Astbury, Philip Hughes, Peter Brewill, Amanda Webb, Claire Stuart, Nicholas Grice, Susan Storer,
Louise Morris, Philip Neild, Michael Gromett, Marcus Welford, Andrew Brown, Mark Young, Stephen Wiltcher,
Giles Wilson, Charles Foster, Jonathan Case, Adrian Martin, David Rees, Simon Millhouse, David Arnott,
Helena Eley, David Robjohns, Philippa Seckington, Richard Clowes, Ian Speirs, Philip Rook, Warwick Pugh,
Dave Stonehouse, Sarah Ingoldby, Nicholas Hall, James Westwood, Lesley Nowell, Sarah Bennett, Kirsten Slack,
Alisa Panton, Sarah Bird, Sophie Lee, Claire Hatton, Catherine Cotton, Justin Davies, Caroline French,
Clare Cousins, Kate Done, Andrea Bishop, Lucy Back, Claire Houston, John Gidney (60)
Bronze Catherine Cotton, Sarah Bird, Jane Anderson, Emma Graves, Jessica Rawson, Lucy Beck,
Tara Preston-Whyte, Claire Houston, Justin Boughey, Andrew Viney, Thomas Colman, Antony Hatton,
Simon Burall, Michael Wygard, Jonathan Turner, Julian Green, Stephen Heard, Daniel Wright, Charles White,
James Westcombe, Nicholas French, Peter Jones, John Miller, Andrew Pullan, Philippa Seckington,
Toby Desforges, Kate Sheasby, Matthew Callow, Sue Riley, Lydia Tyler, Marina Woodard, Jane Ong,
Annabel Wade, Rachel Wright, Sarah Donald, Helen Theakston, Helena Bibby, Holly Sidwell, Justine Crowe,
Charlotte Eckhardt, Katie Lawson-Dick, Ian Slack, Peter Phillips, Jo Elliott, Claire Taylor, Nicholas Donaldson,
Helen Shough, Cheryl Archer, Nicola Webb, Sean Allebone, Christopher Lewis, Guy Parmella, Daniel Crowther,
Marcus Black, Asha Aggarwal, Helen Cross, Mark Fletcher, Henry Bettinson, Kate Moseley, Helen Borrill, Jenny
Woodd-Walker, Megan Brown, Adele Wood (63)
196
Award Winners 1986
Gold Claire Stuart, Emma Part, Jacqueline Halliday-Pegg, Benjamin Ong, Dominic Burke, Bruce James, Gethin
Maddocks, Katie Hawtin, Nicholas Holt, Darren Taylor, Kate Riley, Iain Parr, Helene Eley, Nicholas Mendham,
Justine Palmer, Wendy Gilliver, Caroline French, Karen Slack, Robert Borrill, Justin Wheatcroft, Roger Price,
Alex Hill, Alastair England, Mark Astbury, Timothy Hill, Philip Hughes, Stephano Moro, Corinne Richards,
Catherine Cotton, Justin Blackmore, Ian Speirs, Charles Brooke, Jonathan Gidney, David Arnott,
Marcus Welford, William Burgess, Clare Cousins, Katherine Done, Charles Foster, Sophie Lee, Kirsten Slack,
Simon Millhouse, Helen Shough, Frank Cooke, David Rees, Stephanie Gibbins, Ian Derry, Simon Smith,
Lucy Beck (49)
Silver Helen Shough, Emma Hawthorne, Jessica Shaw, Rebecca Farmer, Simon Smith, Ben Walsgrove,
Jane Ong, Stephen Gilliver, Simon Burall, Stephen Heard, Cheryl Archer, Helena Bibby, Daniel Wright,
Tom Davidson, Toby Gale, Thomas Colman, Henry Bettinson, Nicholas French, Giles Elliot, Justin Boughey,
John Blunsdon, Mark Kenyon, Charles White, Peter Jones, Ben Blunsdon, Adele Wood, Kate Moseley,
Kate Sheasby, John Miller, Toby Desforges, Richard Spiby, Marina Woodard, Sue Riley, Lydia Tyler,
Rachel Wright, Justine Crowe, Charlotte Eckhardt, Antony Hatton, Nicola Webb, Claire Taylor, Melanie Thew,
Tracy Part, Andrew Pullan, Marcus Black, Rebecca Black, Emma Graves, Jenny Woodd-Walker,
Matthew Newton, Nicholas Chapman, Sarah Donald, Daniela Pasch, Nicholas Donaldson (52)
Bronze Jessica Shaw, Kate Carter, Tina Bairstow, Nicholas Chapman, Tracy Part, Melanie Thew, Jenny Booth,
Peter Hipwell, Giles Mellalieu, Richard Pearce, David Bird, Simon Hall, Andrew Scheele, Oliver Taylor,
Richard Green, Paul Hughes, Paul Harris, Benjamin Jones-Fenleigh, Robin Brinkworth, Nicholas Carley,
Antony Cooke, Christopher Parkin, Rory MacAdam, Justin Adams, Ian Smith, Rupert Rees, Peter Dawson,
Gordon McLure, Guy Cousins, James Eason, Kristian Slack, Kevin Baker, Andrew Howe, James Smith,
Alastair Skelton, Catherine Mendham, Jason Fitzpatrick, Jeremy Goldring, Andrew Smith, Michael Ball,
Francis Tam, Marc Nowell, Robert Hare, Prakash Shah, Zoe Ayling, Peter Royea, Lucy Hocknell, Fiona Elliot,
Wendy Eyre, Michael Smith, Christopher Jones, Kwame Ryan, Grant McGregor, Nicola Smith, Ruth Parsisson,
Francesca Walter, Ben Miller, Alastair Senior, Jason Goldmark, Katherine Manchester, Greer Coles,
Katherine McCartney, Dylan Gow, Gareth Morgan, Rachel Popple, Christopher Gee (66)
Award Winners 1987
Gold Nicholas Grice, Nicholas Summers, Philip Rook, Philip Neild, Andrea Bishop, Sarah Bird, Nicholas Hall,
David Webb, Giles Wilson, Emma Hawthorne, Emma Graves, Rebecca Farmer, Rebecca Black, Leslie Nowell,
Susanna Burt, David Robjohns, Ben Walsgrove, Andrew Brown, Justin Boughey, Roger Ifie, Charles White,
Simon Burall, Antony Hatton, Stephen Gilliver, Tom Davidson, Claire Taylor, Jenny Woodd-Walker,
Helen Borrill, Charlotte Eckhardt, Justine Crowe, Henry Bettinson, Thomas Colman, John Blunsdon,
Ben Blunsdon, Melanie Thew, John Miller, Tara Preston-Whyte, Dawn Stonehouse, Giles Elliot, Tracy Part,
Lydia Tyler, Kate Sheasby, Cheryl Archer (43)
Silver Michael Wygard, James Makey, Jonathan Turner, Barry Milne, Jo Elliott, Julian Green,
Catherine Mendham, Katie Lawson-Dick, Helen Theakston, Holly Sidwell, Andrew Howe, Megan Brown,
Matthew Callow, Helen Borrill, Justin Adams, Rupert Rees, Steven Brooks, Clare Eames, Andrew Smith,
Simon Hall, Prakash Shah, Kwame Ryan, Kevin Baker, Giles Mellalieu, Jeremy Goldring, Paul Harris,
Ben Jones-Fenleigh, Antony Cook, Francis Tam, Nicholas Greenhalgh, Oliver Taylor, Peter Hipwell,
Christopher Parkin, David Bird, Kristian Slack, Ben Offiler, James Eason, Peter Dawson, Richard Green,
Rory MacAdam, Alastair Skelton, Nicola Smith, Ian Mathie, Zoe Ayling, Robin Brinkworth, Grant McGregor,
Jenny Booth, Fiona Elliot, Rachel Popple, Katherine McCartney, Wendy Eyre, Lucy Hocknell, Ruth Parsisson,
Greer Coles, Francesca Walter, Rachel Minto, Linda Milne, Elise Vaughan, John Anderson, Michael Ball,
Sue Hathaway, Christopher Jones, Sarah Donald (63)
Bronze Ben Offiler, Pippa Dempsey, Benjamin de Pear, Nicki Hines, Joanne Gagg, Elizabeth White, Lucy Clark,
Jeremy Simmonds, Rachel Goose, Brett Bullimore, Mark Rowsell, Max Palmer, Daniel O'Kane, Michael Smith,
Park Ng, Philip Callow, Martin Hart, Richard Dent, Clare Tasker, Christopher Arnott, Arthur Bull, Jonathan
Heffer, Andrew Newman, Richard Nelson, Angus Kaberry, Sophie Gale, Rachel Bird, Joanne Harford, Michael
197
Holmes, Jamie Lewin, Stephen Theakston, Lindsey Asher, William Spencer, Richard Cutt, Katie Burall, Rex
Stonehouse, Maria McCormick, Clare Carver, Vicki Porter, Rachel Woodd-Walker, Mandy Bairstow, Nicola
Smith, Matthew Cullen, Giles Desforges, Simon Oldham, Sacha Pertwee, Petra Eason, Caroline Shelton,
Beverley Herbert, James Dickens, James Watts, Lucy Pearson, Sarah Wood, Greg Haynes, Sophie Lawson,
Kirstie Riley, Nicholas Jones, Henrietta Blyth, Juliet Soffee, Joanne Gibbins, Christoher Gibbins, James Kerr,
Abraham Smith, Samantha Bell, Emma Pullan, Simon Atlee, Oliver Price, Elise Vaughan, Kerri Nowell, Sarah
Watson, Amy Fox, Daniel Carter, James Adams, Jeanette Lavey, Christopher Cotton, Elizabeth Aggarwal,
Alex Gilman, Sue Hatherway, Dolores Sanders, Antonia Makey, Nicholas Kingham, Eleanor Lamb,
Nicola-Jane Brooks (83)
Award Winners 1988
Gold Peter Jones, Sue Riley, Rachel Wright, Marina Woodard, Matthew Button, Jonathan Turner,
Daniella Pasch, Jane Ong, Maria Jones, Nicholas Donaldson, Katie Lawson-Dick, Toby Desforges, Francis Tam,
Giles Mellalieu, James Westwood, Michael Wygard, Kevin Baker, Sarah Donald, Nicholas Greenhalgh,
Rory MacAdam, Rupert Rees, Ben Jones-Fenleigh, Kwame Ryan, Catherine Mendham, Justin Adams,
Peter Hipwell, Greer Coles, Elizabeth Aggarwal, Francesca Walter, Anthony Cooke, Helen Theakston (31)
Silver Jason Goldmark, Ffion Jones, Ian Smith, Katherine Manchester, Dylan Gow, Alastair Senior,
Clare Tasker, Daniel Crowther, Andrew Scheele, Sarah Graves, Stephanie Bruning, Andrew Newman,
Marc Nowell, Juliet Soffe, Samantha Bell, Antonia Makey, James Kerr, John Anderson, Jamie Lewin,
Stephen Theakston, Jeremy Simmonds, Daniel O'Kane, Mark Rowsell, Michael Smith, Max Palmer, Oliver Price,
Rex Stonehouse, Brett Bullimore, James Watts, Park Ng, Francis Reed, Martin Hart, Richard Nelson,
Angus Kaberry, Jo Gibbins, Christopher Gibbins, Giles Desforges, Duncan Edwards, Katie Burall, Sarah Wood,
Christopher Cotton, Amanda Bairstow, Henrietta Blyth, Sophie Lawson, Christopher Arnott, Simon Atley,
Daniel Carter, Jeremy Lee, Elizabeth White, Nicola Hines, James Adams, Clare Carver, Richard Cutt,
Nicholas Jones, Elizabeth Aggarwal, Philip Callow, Rebecca Welford, Claire Hannah (58)
Bronze Erika Brown, Celine Issitt, Duncan Edwards, Jemma Cooke, Francis Reed, Jeremy Lee,
Nicholas Atkinson, Carolyn Thomas, Rebecca Riddy, Sameer Nawaz, Mark Holmes, Rupert Whyte,
Rebecca Welford, Guy Boyd, Toby Cripps, Daniel Cowan, Michael Haines, Nicholas Mayor, Matthew Astill,
Katie Bowling, Corinne Pearce, Josephine Moore, Rachel Borrill, Robert Allman, Christian Hill-Brookes,
Daniel Ball, Jonathan Sloan, James Astill, John Berry, Claire Archer, Rebecca Robinson, Holly Pertwee,
Lisa Bartlett, Sally Onyett, Frances Abell, Hannah Tyler, Iain Minto, Mark Tanner, Philippa Leaman,
Joanne Ashpole, Alison Green, Stuart Gilliver, Andrew Forbes, Michael Stoker, Denis Backermann,
Alexandra Lawrence, Karen Hall, Tifanny Richards, Caroline Hall, Mark Goldmark, Samantha Herridge,
Lucy Burgass, Simon Haynes, George Gilham, Sarah McIntosh, Abigail Hipwell, Louis Moulton, Andrew Craig,
George Dickenson, David Carrier, Lisa Worth, Anna Bevis-White, Sarah Owen, Madelaine O'Brien,
Claire Hannah (65)
Award Winners 1989
Gold Andrew Smith, Kate Moseley, Helena Bibby, Lucy Hocknell, Wendy Eyre, Ian Mathie, Seung-Jun Choi,
Rachel Minto, Andrew Scheele, Paul Harris, Michael Ball, Rachel Popple, Timothy Lane, Alastair Skelton,
Steven Brooks, Katherine Manchester, Prakash Shah, Grant McGregor, Zoe Ayling, Nicola Smith, Kristian Slack,
Christopher Jones, Ruth Parsisson, Jeremy Goldring, Andrew Howe, Linda Milne, Elise Vaughan,
Susan Hathaway, Robin Dummett, Jason Goldmark, Park Ng, Daniel O'Kane, Simon Hall, Jeremy Simmonds,
Max Palmer, Michael Holmes, Mark Rowsell, Juliet Soffe, Brett Bullimore, Christopher Gibbins, Daniel Swinsen,
Christopher Cotton, Adrian Tippetts, James Dickens, Oliver Price, Richard Cutt, Clare Carver, Giles Desforges,
Abraham Smith, Michael Smith, Amanda Bairstow, Beverley Herbert (52)
Silver Sophie Gale, Jonathan Heffer, Matthew Cullen, Michael Holmes, Kirstie Riley, Beverley Herbert,
Abraham Smith, Lindsey Asher, Sarah Hackney, Kerri Nowell, Nicholas Atkinson, Rachel Woodd-Walker,
Rachel Bird, Joanne Gagg, James Dickens, Benjamin Hartley, Richard Dent, Ffion Jones, Sacha Pertwee, Claire
Archer, Jemma Cooke, Erica Brown, Rebecca Riddy, Stuart Gilliver, Matthew Astill, Toby Cripps, Denis
Beckermann, Marc Goldman, Mark Tanner, John Berry, Jonathan Sloan, Paul Reynolds, George Gilham, Iain
198
Minto, Eleanor Lamb, Simon Haynes, George Dickinson, Robert Allman, Louis Moulton, Sally Onyett, Rachel
Borrill, Nicholas Mayor, Amy Fox, Holly Pertwee, Lyn Smith, Philippa Leaman, William Tillotson, Frances Abell,
Corinne Pearce, Mark Holmes, Andrew Craig, Daniel Cowan, Lisa Worth (53)
Bronze Lyn Smith, Rebecca Greaves, Paul Reynolds, William Tillotson, Sarah Issitt, Catherine Scott Gunn,
Alex Gilman, Paula Donaldson, Antonia Herbert, Melanie Carnell, Kim Gilman, James Weight, Matthew Shough,
Robert Robinson, Andrew Braithwaite, Tricia Rayment, James Woodford, Philip Hines, Gareth James,
Dominic Reay, Paul Deakin, Alexander Thomson, Jeremy Goodwin, Stephen Hurton, Neil Cumming,
Tengku Faiz, Mark Burrows, Andrew Brockhurst, Graham Hodge, Christopher Bell, Guy Windsor,
Michael Lavey, Timothy Askew, Jonathan Smith, Peter Webb, Jonathan Nelson, Ben Cripps, Rupert Goldring,
Hugh Middleton, Justin Furse, Giles Williams, Sophie Maynard, Tiffany Lynch, Hannah Whysall,
Charles Bettinson, Jonathan Blythin, Andrew Haigh, Joanne Part, Sarah Walker, Philip Waknell, Zoe Buswell,
Matthew Macfadyen, Claire Kaberry, Charlotte Bucher, Joanne McLoughlin, Clare Cox, Julia Brooks, Catherine
Pugh, Leo Welbourne, Samantha Garner-Southey, Kimberley Porter, Karen Wilkins, Louise Jordan,
Sally Rowsell, Paul Roberts, Simon Jackson, Stuart Helmer (67)
Award Winners 1990
Gold Nicola Webb, Katie Burrall, Jonathan Heffer, Rebecca Welford, Alex Gilman, Rachel Wood-Walker,
Sophie Gale, Henrietta Blyth, Sarah Wood, Vicki Porter, Sophie Lawson, Rachel Bird, Kirstie Riley, Philip Callow,
Claire Hannah, Nichola Hines, Jeanette Lavey, Duncan Edwards, Rex Stonehouse, Lindsey Asher,
Elizabeth White, Christopher Arnott, Rebecca Riddy, Eleanor Lamb, Nicholas Jones, Matthew Callow,
James Adams, Carolyn Thomas, Jamie Lewin, Louis Moulton, Amy Fox, Ben Hartley, James Kerr, Richard Dent,
John Berry, Jeremy Lee, Rachel Pring, James Astill, Nicola Brooks, Andrew Julius (40)
Silver Hannah Tyler, Josephine Moore, Ann-Marie Corvin, Andrew Forbes, Andrew Haigh, Maxine Gee,
Michael Stoker, Alexandra Lawrence, Alison Day, Lucy Burgass, Jeanette Lavey, Abigail Hipwell, Vicki Porter,
Emma Hart, Katie Bowling, James Astill, Nicholas Spotswood, Carolyn Thomas, Justin Furse, Peter Webb,
Timothy Askew, Sarah McIntosh, Michael Lavey, Jonathan Nelson, Paul Deakin, Guy Windsor,
Alexander Thomson, Andrew Braithwaite, Nicola Brooks, Charles Bettinson, Christopher Bell,
Andrew Brockhurst, Jeremy Goodwin, James Woodford, Gareth James, Robert Robinson, Dominic Reay,
Philip Hines, Jonathan Smith, Hugh Middleton, Mark Burrows, Phillip Ash, Graham Hodge,
Matthew Macfadyen, Melanie Carnell, Sofie Streatfield, Antonia Herbert, Leo Welbourne, Sophie Maynard,
Sarah Walker, Joanne McLoughlin, Hannah Whysall, Giles Williams, Joanna Part, Joanne Ashpole,
Roberta Craig, Bronwen O'Kane, Ben Cripps, Catherine Pugh, Lisa Bartlett, Karen Wilkins, Sally Rowsell (62)
Bronze Ann-Marie Corvin, Frances Manchester, Alison Day, Kate Debenham, Allison Gibbs, Roberta Craig,
James Gill, Edward Savory, James Molson, Owen Hughes, Stuart Philpot, Jeremy Dawson, Mark Hawkins,
Edward Kellie, Gwilym Pugh, Richard Inglis, Jamie Thew, Mary Coates, Tom Battye, Tom Morgan,
Tom Crawford, Elisabeth Carter, Matthew Austen, Lucia Wilde, Brandon Furse, Ellen Coomber, Jo Harding,
Susan Dixon, Christopher Kelting, Benjamin Hargreaves, Samuel Cowan, Thomas Leaman, Piers Tanner,
Richard Hodgson, Ross Oldfield, Lucy Golland, Jasmine Goraya, Katie Pritchard, Naomi Thorneycroft,
Krista Braithwaite, Marcus Craven, Emma Purslow, Johanna Harrisson, Patrick Holmes, Imogen Procter,
Rohan Platts, David Bailey, Matthew Weiss, Timothy Pynegar, Andrew Soper, Christopher Lawrence,
Sophie Streatfield, Lisa Wood, Lucy Simmonds, Claudia Luscombe-Whyte, Matthew East, Bronwen O'Kane,
Katherine Thomson, Samuel Pink, Naomi Harvey, Rhys Maddocks, Samantha Hale, Mary-Ann Bartlett (63)
Award Winners 1991
Gold Barry Milne , Ann-Marie Corvin, Maxine Gee, Jonathan Sloan, Stephen Theakston, Sarah Graves,
Michael Stoker, Rachel Borrill, Holly Pertwee, Angus Kaberry, Jemma Cooke, Alexandra Lawrence, Iain Minto,
William Spencer, Mark Tanner, Claire Archer, Clare Tasker, Corinne Pearce, Emma Hart, Hannah Tyler,
Sarah Hackney, Stuart Gilliver, Paul Reynolds, Frances Abell, Toby Cripps, Matthew Astill, Alison Day,
Lisa Bartlett, Sophie Streatfield, Rebecca Robinson, Johanna Gordon, Charlotte Hopkinson, Rachel Hickman,
Rachel Chapman, William Tillotson, Piers Brittain, Andrew Forbes, Lynn Smith, Lisa Worth, Charles Bettinson,
Melanie Carnell, Simon Haynes, Philip Hines, Gareth James, Jonathan Nelson, Robert Allman, Neil Hazle,
199
Nicholas Spotswood, Michael Lavey, Richard Nelson, Andrew Brockhurst, Robert Robinson,
Joanne McLoughlin, Richard McClelland, Julia Carver, Antonia Herbert, Sally Rowsell, Peter Webb, Paul Deakin
(59)
Silver Julia Carver, Jonathan Blythin, Simon Jackson, Sarah Harvison, Rupert Goldring, Stuart Helmer,
Tom Crawford, Owen Hughes, David Bailey, Tom Battye, Kerry Veitch, Kimberley Porter, Mark Hawkins,
James Molson, Edward Savory, Andrew Soper, Edward Kellie, Christopher Kelting, Nicholas Wilson,
Brandon Furse, Matthew Austen, Lucia Wilde, Christopher Lawrence, Richard Inglis, Katherine Thomson,
Samuel Pink, Ellen Coomber, Lucy Golland, Jo Harding, Zoe Buswell, Elizabeth Carter, Peirs Tanner,
Matthew East, Ewan Miller, Jeremy Dawson, Anna Langford, Thomas Leaman, Sarah Owen (38)
Bronze Julia Carver, Emily Glover, Genevieve O'Brien, Anna McErlain, Susannah Lewis, Emma Bebb, Emma
Curwen, Jonathan Rose, Nicholas Wilson, Sarah Harvison, Katherine Veitch, Sally Mayor, George Heffer,
Marcus Hoyle, Ben Johnson, Maxwell Roache, Jeremy Carey, Benjamin Robinson, Martin Newton, Alex De'Ath,
James McLean, Angus McLean, Ben Murphy, William Jordison, Christy Acton, Richard Sell, Adam Blaskey,
Jonathan Norris, Mark Nicholas, Robert O'Brien, James Foubister, Martin Price, Matthew R. Brown,
Mark Buckwell, Andrew Butterworth, Nathan Rush, Robert Taffinder, Alex Johnson, Guy Williams,
Todd Roache, James Bull, Paul Devaney, Alastair Binns, Matthew Cook, Ashley Wood, Anna Langford,
Rachel Rosenthal, Ruth Middleton, Katherine Baddeley, Sarah Scott, Annabel Amos, Becky Ball,
Emma Scott Gunn, Eleanor Tebbit, Juliette Tweedie, Abigail Best, Katie Shewry (57)
Award Winners 1992
Gold Jeremy Goodwin, Stephanie Bruning, Mark Burrows, Sarah Walker, Andrew Haigh, Matthew Macfadyen,
Giles Williams, James Woodford, High Middleton, Jonathan Smith, Andrew Craig, Graham Hodge,
Beverley Morton, Catherine O'Kane, Suzanne Bradley, Edward Savory, Hannah Whysall, Joel Holliday, Kathryn
Yusoff, Sarah Harris, Timothy Askew, Joanna Part, Kate Debenham, Simon Jackson, Guy Windsor, Dominic
Reay, Hemant Bhide, Richard Lancaster, Claire Walters, David Bailey, Edward Kellie, Andrew Soper, Tom
Crawford, Samantha Hale, Mary-Ann Bartlett, Owen Hughes, Nicola Smith, Mark Holmes, Sarah Watson, Kim
Gilman, Sophie Maynard, Mary Coates, Katherine McCartney, Lucia Wilde, Dwight Cribb, Sally Mayor, Fiona
Elliot, James Molson, James Bromley, Anthony Webb, Megan Rentell (51)
Silver David Mann, Deborah Heard, George Heffer, Sally Mayor, Jasmine Goraya, Katherine Veitch,
Lisa Wood, Kate Debenham, Thomas Morgan, Rohan Platts, Katie Pritchard, Ben Hargreaves, Samantha Hale,
Mary Coates, Emily Glover, Geneviere O'Brien,Steven Matthews, Christie Acton, Marcus Hoyle, James Barber,
Ben Johnson, Paul Devaney, Marcus Craven, Charles Noden, Ross Oldfield, Nicholas Holmes, Simon Robbie,
Kate Spall, Georgina Walker, Rachel Elliott, Abigail Best, Mark Nicholas, Ben Mitchell, Thomas Day,
Ashley Wood, Katy Naylor, Alex Johnson, Martin Newton, Nathan Rush, Richard Sell, Ben Murphy,
Angus McLean, James McLean, William Jordison, Jonathan Norris, Holly Wells, Sarah Wilson, Robert O'Brien,
Christopher Mallock, Jane Carpenter, Joanne Llewellyn, Gemma Buckley, Guy Williams, Jeremy Corey,
Eleanor Tebbit, Todd Roache, Ben Robinson, Simon Greenwood, Mark Buckwell, Emma Curwen,
Sarah Davidson, Maxwell Roache, Susannah Lewis, Sarah Watson, Alexandra Fraser, Ruth Middleton,
Jane Goodchild, Kate Harrisson, Matthew R. Brown, Leila Marshall, Katherine Baddeley, Sarah Earnshaw,
Annabel Amos, Adam Blaskey, Emma Cutt, Alastair Binns, Katherine Hodge, Becky Ball, Juliette Tweedie,
Katherine Piskowyj (80)
Bronze Robert Price, Deborah Heard, Sarah Wilson, Katherine Piskowyj, Alexandra Fraser, Simon Robbie,
Jane Goodchild, Kate Harrison, Thomas Day, Nicholas Holmes, Mark Astill, Kate Spall, Georgina Walker,
Joanne Llewellyn, Christopher Mallock, Holly Wells, Anstey Brock, Jane Carpenter, James Barber, Aubrie Lowes,
Gemma Buckley, Ben Mitchell, Rachel Elliott, Jenny Walters, Lucy Rumble, Leila Marshall, Vanda Craig,
Anna Davis, Katherine Hodge, Emma Cutt, Fiona Goodwillie, Katy Naylor, Tamsyn Auterson, Ben Arlett,
Joseph Solomons, William Grattan, James MacDonald, Andrew Williamson, William Coates, Christopher Worth,
Emma Riddington, Thea Yates, Christopher Ward, Paul Herbert, Robert Carpenter, James Hardy,
Edward Mowbray, Nicholas Askew, Andrew Clarke, David Firmin, Andrew Russell, Paul Bradshaw, Lucas Avery,
Charles Jones, Simon Greenwood, Matthew Blythin, Ruth Shepard, Philippa Bryant, Lisa Goode, Fiona Carver,
Amber Prestidge, Rebecca Oldfield, Katie Heywood, Frances Hockin, Julie Fossett, Justine Cumberland,
200
Nell Battye, Amanda Baird, Charlotte Allen, Philippa Glover, Guy McErlain, Nina Wilkin, Sarah Davidson,
Elizabeth Inglis, Charlotte Ham, Sarah Earnshaw, Alice Bullimore, David Soper, Leah Smith, Laura Custance,
Duncan Clarke, Charles Reading, Lucy Benbow, Lucy Riddington, Richard Hogg, Marcus Anderson,
Giles Campling, Thomas Naylor, Andrew James, Richard Stephen, Clare Holliday, Jennifer Siddall, Tania Rowell,
James Lomas, Charles Eaton, Andrew Tomlinson, Ross Bullimore, Alex Papandrea, Caroline Zingg,
Rachel Hickenbotham, Luke Condon (101)
Award Winners 1993
Gold Tom Battye, Sarah Earnshaw, Matthew Austen, Lucy Golland, James Clark, Lisa Wood, Lindsey Campling,
Samuel Pink, Sacha Rosenthal, Ahmed Elsharkawe, Lavinia Mitton, Maisam Fazel, Jennie Hall, Thomas Morgan,
Elizabeth Carter, Jasmine Goraya, Naomi Thorneycroft, Zoe Buswell, Emma Curwen, Katie Pritchard,
Iona Reid Scott, George Gillham, Mai Wakatsuki, James Baugh, Benjamin Hargreaves, Mark Hawkins,
Lucy Simmonds, Jamie Thew, Christopher Lawrence, Marcus Hoyle, Mark Nicholas, Nicholas Wilson,
Leila Marshall, Leo Welbourne, Christy Acton, Jo Harris, James McLean, Angus McLean, David Mann,
Abigail Best, Georgina Walker, Ruth Atkinson, Rachel Elliott, Emily Glover, Ewen Miller, Alexander de’Ath,
Katherine Hodge, Dorothea Yates, Katherine Shewry, Sarah Nyman, Victoria Monaghan, Asha Aggarwal,
Sarah Davidson, Katherine Piskowyj, Katherine Baddeley, Ruth Middleton, Rachel Rosenthal, Jane Goodchild,
Richard Inglis, Alastair Binns, Matthew R. Brown, Adam Blaskey, Simon Robbie, Ashley Wood, Richard Sell,
Alexandra Fraser, William Jordison, Guy Coleman, Alex Murray, Kate Harrison, Alexandra Cooper, Thomas
Leaman (72)
Silver Rachel Rosenthal, James Bull, Anna Davis, Vanda Craig, Fiona Goodwillie, Sarah Scott, Katie Shewry,
Robert Price, Polly Whysall, Elizabeth Inglis, Richard Hogg, Nicholas Askew, Tom Naylor, Chris Worth,
Anstey Brock, Andrew James, Edward Mowbray, Giles Campling, Nicholas Dawson, Lucas Avery,
Charles Reading, Andrew Clarke, Nicola Hale, Ben Arlett, Christopher Ward, Paul Herbert, James Hardy,
Robert Carpenter, Lucy Simmonds, David Firmin, Philippa Glover, Andrew Williamson, Paul Bradshaw,
Duncan Clarke, Nina Wilkin, Justine Cumberland, Emma Whiteley, Thea Yates, Alex Papandrea, David Soper,
Laura Custance, Lucy Riddington, Mark Astill, Lisa Goode, Jenny Walters, Emma Riddington, Joseph Solomons,
Victoria Monaghan, Asha Aggarwal, Emma Scott-Gunn, Andrew Tomlinson, Frances Hockin, Matthew Cook,
Samantha Morecroft, Matthew McCartney, Amanda Baird, Martin Price, Charlotte Allen, Jennifer Siddall,
James Lomas, Clare Holliday, Fiona Wilson, Charles Eaton, Tania Rowell, Richard Stephen, Andrew Butterworth
(66)
Bronze Fiona Wilson, Holly Brewster, Matthew Vice, Ross Jeggo, Hilary Aldridge, Kirsty Lowe,
Dominic Reader, Polly Whysall, Christopher Tune, Malcolm Bracken, Matthew McCartney, Nicola Hale,
Nicholas Dawson, Rosie Cowan, Emma Whiteley, William Clarkson, Jane Mills, Gary Crellin, James Crawford,
Kathryn Fairhurst, Katherine Haddon, Neil Tweddle, Guy Blaskey, James Shorthouse, Philip Ainge,
Glenn Keighley, Paul Williamson, Mark Jackson, Peter Nicholas, Paul Ryan, Tristan Barker, Georgina Grose,
Simon Scott, Marina Bruce, Rebecca Wood, Sally Copp, Nicola De’Ath, Simon Sedgley, Claire Hockin,
Poppy Sebire, Sarah East, Victoria Monaghan, Asha Aggarwal, Noemie Wiggett, Rebecca Leighton,
Victoria Johnson, Shrijal Patel, Caroline Ayre, Duncan Baker, Molly Mackey, Joanna Chick, Harry White,
Bronwen Riorden, Alexandra Carey, Sarah Hall, Danielle-Marie Cook, Veronica Mavor, Rebecca Carter,
Lucy Jackson, Louise Stoddart, Flora Daniels, Jenny Middleton, Charlotte Lattin-Rawstrone, Annabel Harrison,
Anna MacLoed-Smith, Charlotte Bates, Giles Megginson, Jo Mitchell, Stephen Jeffes, Timothy Sworn,
Katie Hodgkinson (71)
Award Winners 1994
Gold Ben Murphy, Samantha Morecraft, Vanda Craig, Guy Williams, Nicola Hale, Gemma Buckley, Emma Cutt,
Kate Spall, Annabel Amos, Thomas Picton, Emma Riddington, Robert O’Brien, Anna Davis, Martin Price,
Laurence Cork, Stephen Ayre, Serena Lancaster, Sarah Scott, Tom Day, Fiona Goodwillie, Paul Devaney,
Jonathan Norris, Polly Whysall, Jenny Walters, Juliette Tweedie, Nathan Rush, Martin Newton, Matthew Cook,
Christopher Malloch, Paul Herbert, Andrew Williamson, Ben Arlett, Charles Reading, Duncan Clarke,
David Firmin, Paul Bradshaw, Christopher Worth, Laura Custance, Simon Greenwood, Edward Mowbray,
Todd Roache, Ursula Wentworth, Richard Baker, James Hardy, Maxwell Roache, Cambell Bennett,
201
Emma Whiteley, Laurence Harrity, Amanda Baird, Elizabeth Inglis, Janet Macnamara, Lisa Goode, Victoria Peel,
Charles Eaton, Lucy Riddington, Clare Holliday (56)
Silver Marcus Anderson, Christopher Tune, Imogen Proctor, Tristan Barker, Peter Nicholas, Mark Jackson,
Sarah East, James MacDonald, Harry White, James Crawford, Guy Blaskey, Philip Ainge, Paul Ryan,
Duncan Baker, Timothy Sworn, Glenn Keighley, Gary Crellin, Paul Williamson, Simon Fraser, Holly Brewster,
Leah Smith, John Clarke, Alexandra Carey, Zoe White, Emma Bebb, Nicola De’Ath, Sally Copp, Neil Eady,
Jane Mills, James O’Brien, Rebecca Wood, Domini Reader, Louise Stoddart, Veronica Mavor,
Anna Macleod-Smith, Molly Mackey, Ruth Shepard, Tom Herridge, Shrijal Patel, Noemie Wiggett, Sarah Hall
(41)
Bronze Antonia Hoyle, Philippa Dean, James O’Brien, Tom Bourne, James Elliott, Adam North, Andrew Fergus,
Alexander David Williams, Emma Cannings, Melissa Bloodworth, Andrew Bracken, William Hartley, Simon
Fraser, Alisdair Falconer, Hannah Burt, Jonathan England, Richard Dry, Casper Newbolt, David Hughes, Mark
Harrison, Rupert Woolley, Andrew Goodwillie, Simon Goode, Christopher Sackree, Ace North, Paul Davey,
James Hawkins, Adam Buckley, Duncan Watt, Giles Copp, Andrew Carter, Timothy Harris, Thomas Wiggall,
Duncan Thompson, Christian Williams, Christopher McCartney, Richard Longhill, Nicholas Muat,
Joanna Harvison, John Clarke, William Greaves, Vicki Mills, Marissa Watts, Zoe White, Katherine Mockford,
Joanna Ward, Angus Fergus, Ruth Reading, Simon Spencer, Anna Firmin, Richard van der Hoff, Megan Price,
Owen Coomber, Lesley Ainge, Anna Davenport, Anna Hickinbotham, Jane Tomlinson, Clare Shepard, Gemma
Wookey, Rebecca Roch, Nicholas Cole, Laura Middleton, Kate Shirley, Luke Cousins, Caroline Smith, Camilla
Knight, William Johnson, Malcolm Craig, Nicola Siddall, Elliott Williams, William Hitchins, James Kemp, Tom
Herridge, Penny Bailey, Timothy Wheelwright, Charles Kinder, Neil Smith, Daniel Clayton (78)
Award Winners 1995
Gold David Soper, Andrew Clarke, Philippa Leaman, Suzanne Arcules, Lucas Avery, Janet Hairsine,
Giles Campling, Tom Naylor, Ruth Shepard, James Lomas, Richard Hogg, Jeremy Carey, Tom Colquhoun,
Sally Middleton, Christopher Ward, Jennifer Siddall, Alice Bullimore, Frances Hockin, Fiona Carver, Leah Smith,
Rachel Hickinbotham, Alexis Papandrea, James Bull, Peter Nicholas, James Crawford, Mark Jackson,
Jennifer Bromige, Emma Scott Gunn, Lucinda Adams, Nicholas Askew, Neil Eady, Philip Ainge, Tristan Barker,
Richard Profit, Gary Crellin, Glenn Keighley, Molly Mackey, Alexandra Borwick, Tania Rowell, Alexandra Carey,
Joanne Chick, Rebecca Carter, Rebecca Wood, Caroline Zingg, Veronica Mavor, Nicola De’Ath, Sarah Giles,
Aubrie Lowes, (Bruce) Duncan Brown, Jane Mills (50)
Silver Poppy Sebire, Caroline Zingg, Lucinda Adams, Claire Hockin, Sarah Heard, Joanna Chick, Rebecca Carter,
Thomas Wiggall, Andrew Goodwillie, Richard Dry, Simon Goode, Christopher Sackree, Jonathan England,
Adam Buckley, Rupert Woolley, Andrew Carter, William Hitchins, Nicholas Muat, James Hawkins, Neil Smith,
Nicholas Cole, Vicki Johnson, Jo Mitchell, Bronwen Riordan, William Johnson, Elliott Williams,
Tim Wheelwright, Lucy Benbow, Paul Westmacott, Fiona Carver, Duncan Thompson, Ace North, Caroline Ayre,
Rachel Hickinbotham, Tim Harris, Paul Davey, Rebecca Wollaston, Sally Middleton, Antonia Hoyle,
Richard Longhill, Lesley Ainge, Anna Firmin, Katherine Mockford, Simon Spencer, Charles Wright, Simon Clark,
Joanna Ward, Christian Williams, Vicki Mills, Megan Price, Alisdair Falconer, Melissa Bloodworth, Richard van
der Hoff, Laura Middleton, Kate Bradbury, Gemma Wookey, Malcolm Craig, Zoe Binns, Nicola Siddall, Lucy
Evans, Casper Newbolt, Georgina Grose, Penny Bailey, Anna Hickinbotham (64)
Bronze Oliver Booth, Lucy Evans, Amy Holliday, David Barker, Katherine Robinson, Paul Westmacott,
Esther Hardy, Sarah Heard, Louise Flynn, Jenny Blinch, Daniel Male, Alasdair Docherty, Richard Hairsine,
Alex Dalton, Thomas Daniel, Miles Jupp, Alec Sawers, Tom Hoar, Maxim Vane-Percy, Alex Drewnicki,
Timothy Stansbury, Alex Bradshaw, James Allitt, Simon Gromett, Andrew Wilson, Jonathan Mills, Oliver Wood,
Sally Middleton, Nicholas Heyward, Pollyann Hammond, Polly Brooks, Hannah Farrow, Nicholas Davey,
Rebecca Squirrell, Benjamin Williams, Emily Dover, Joanne Netscher, Nicholas Seaman, Katie Camp,
Madeline Riordan, Jenna Keighley, Hannah Gray, Mark Kennedy, Katy Sharp, Toro Miki, Adam Murray,
Helen Westmoreland, Hannah Makings, Katie Smith, Rebecca Rowe, Nicholas Morgan, Henry Allen,
Katherine Tearle, Joanna Radford, David Garner, Alexandra Miles, Alison Parker, Jennifer Hughes,
Angela Wharton, Carly Farrow, Kirsty Ockleford, James Donnelly, Rebecca Hewlett, Laura Wilkins, Kate Phillips,
202
Elise Evans, Katherine Norris, Kate Bradbury, Zoe Binns, Daniel Moore, Emma Corkindale, Vanessa Martin,
Megan Owen, Benjamin Acton, Mark Homer, Giles Lane, Annemarie Elsom, Sarah Rickaby, Anna Sheppard,
Claire Rawlins, Thomas Batchelor, Joanna Hamlyn Williams, Kate Archer, Robert Harris, Hang-Hoo Cho,
Andrew Hazell, Timothy Hems (87)
Award Winners 1996
Gold Rebecca Hardy, Nina Wilkin, Anna MacLeod-Smith, Shrival Patel, Neomie Wiggett, Marcus Anderson,
Poppy Sebire, Paul Williamson, Sarah Hall, Henrietta Haywood, Flora Daniels, Louise Stoddart, Helen Jones,
Georgina Grose, Adam Guest, Andrew Fergus, Harry White, Charlotte Bates, Sarah Turnbull, Timothy Sworn,
Simon Clark, Rupert Woolley, Paul Ryan, Sally Copp, Jenny Middleton, Adam Buckley, Andrew Goodwillie,
Andrew Carter, Mark Harrison, Charlotte Allen, Richard van de Hoff, Caspar Newbolt, Becky Ball, Penny Bailey,
Edward Hodges, Toby Maddaford, Katherine Mockford, Timothy Harris, Jo Harvison, Jo Harvison, Vickie Mills,
Caroline Sell, Christian Williams, Michael Anderson, Evelyn MacNamara, Nicola Siddall, Christopher McCartney
(47)
Silver Timothy Hall, David Barker, Oliver Booth, Joanna Pritchard, Emma Cannings, Marissa Watts,
Alexandra Miles, Jenny Blinch, Anna Davenport, Samuel Radford, Nicholas Seaman, Matthew Shouler,
Oliver Wood, Andrew Hazell, Andrew Wilson, Giles Lane, Tom Daniel, Alex Dalton, David Garner,
Jonathan Mills, Richard Hairsine, James Allitt, Alex Bradshaw, Daniel Male, Timothy Hems, David Hughes,
Natasha Furey, Katherine Fairhurst, Stephen Wigmore, Christopher McCartney, James Donnelly, Helen King,
Rebecca Roch, Henrietta Hawood, Flora Daniels, Richard slack, Nicholas Pedder, Owen Coomber,
Katherine Robinson, Oliver Marshall, Simon Grommett, Daniel Clayton, Stuart Crump, Jenny Middleton,
Laura Buckwell, Alasdair Docherty, Jenna Keighley, Madeline Riordan, Hannah Farrow, Miles Jupp, Katie Camp,
Kate Archer, Hannah Makings, Kate Hudson, Carley Farrow, Emma Corkindale, Kirsty Ockleford,
Katherine Norris, Katy Sharp, Polly Ann Hammond, Nicholas Davey, William Greaves, Amy Holliday,
Thomas Hoar, Mark Kennedy, Rebecca Squirrel, Katherine Tearle, Megan Owen, Alison Parker, Harriet Burnett,
Hannah Gray, Joanna Netscher, Jennifer Hughes, Hang-Hoo Cho, Nicholas Harrity, Malina Patel, Ruth Reading,
Caroline Sell, Angela Wharton, Lizzie Darrall (80)
Bronze Harriett Burnett, Kim Hogg, Nicholas Pedder, Christopher Hudson, Stephen Wigmore,
Henrietta Haywood, Amy Sebire, Joanna Bull, Dick Ip, Tim Whiteley, William Holmes, Josiah Newbolt,
Leigh Drummond, Stephen Burtt, Paul Knight, William Rickaby, Andrew Ward, Christopher Rawlinson,
Adam Woods, Benjamin Newton, Rodolphe von Hofmannsthal, Edward Cave, Richard Baddeley, Nicholas Pert,
Daniel Speed, Charles Ellis, Ton Sharp, John Jones, David Fairely, Gary Sells, Alex Chick, Anthony Lai, Huw Lloyd,
Maria Barefoot, Kate Hudson, Rachel Sanger, Alexandra Lusty, Helen Martin, Sally Johnson,
Simon Warbrick-Smith, Richard Pert, Christopher Soper, Benedict Gray, Roberta Norton, Ben Gunn,
Louise Firmin, Rachel Bates, Charlotte de Mille, Aylin Conboy, Harriet Wilson, Katy Docherty, Kate Gardiner,
Kate Anderson, Katie Benbow, Jenny Hield, Victoria Bentley, Lucy Smith, Diane Burkill, Alexandra Bowkett,
Laura Buckwell, Roie Kelly, Lucy Gilman, Sarah Davenport, Selina Brock, Hope Woodd-Walker, Caroline Sell,
Daisuke Nagaki, Thomas Guest, Christopher Latham, Paul Roughton, Aisling O’Neill (71)
Award Winners 1997
Gold Rebecca Roch, Paul Davey, Anna Davenport, Marnie Dyke-Price, Andrew James, Gemma Wookey,
Charles Wright, William Hitchins, William Johnson, Nicholas Muat, Oliver Booth, Ace North, Sarah Heard,
Lucy Evans, Christopher Sackree, Thomas Wiggall, Nicholas Cole, Elliott Williams, Matthew Shoulder,
Richard Dry, Malcolm Craig, Marissa Watts, Ruth Reading, Anna Hickinbotham, David Barker, Neil Smith,
Anna Firmin, Katherine Fairhurst, Melissa Bloodworth, Natasha Furey, Malina Patel, Laura Middleton,
Jenny Blinch, Richard Longhill, Nicholas Seaman, James Gardiner, Claire Hockin, Simon Spencer,
Duncan Thompson, Hang-Hoo Cho, Christopher Tune, Daniel Clayton, Lesley Ainge, Elizabeth Darrall,
Helen Darrall, Zoe Wentworth, Oliver Wood, Catherine Attwood, Oliver Marshall, Esther Hardy, Rupert Whyte,
Kate Archer, Hannah Farrow, CARLY Farrow, Emma Corkingdale, Kate Bradbury, Fiona MacMillan, James Allitt,
Timothy Hall, Nicholas Harrity, Richard Hairsine, Kirsty Ockleford, Sarah-Louise Molloy, James Donnelly,
Nicholas Morgan, James Ballantyne, Jonathan Mills, Megan Owen, Katie Smith, Stephen Wigmore (70)
203
Silver Esther Hardy, Sarah Rickaby, Anna Shepard, Nicholas Morgan, Jessica Tinsley, Polly Brooks,
Alexander Drewnicki, Robert Harris, Thomas Batchelor, Any Sebire, Elise Evans, Nicholas Pert, Andrew Ward,
Daisuke Nagaki, Tom Sharp, Thomas Guest, Alex Chick, John Jones, Liam Woods, Ben Williams, Charles Ellis,
Paul Knights, Gary Sells, Tom Bullimore, Rodolphe von Hofmannsthal, Anthony Lai, William Rickaby,
Thomas Spall, Helen Darrall, Timothy Kemp, Sarah Russell, Christopher Latham, Jonathan Watts, Toru Miki,
Rosie Cresswell, Kim Hogg, Sarah McLean, Angus Cochrane, Duncan Watt, Benjamin Acton, Rebecca Rowe,
Rebecca Hewlett, Victoria Bentley, Helen Martin, Maria Barefoot, Sally Johnson, Edward Cave, Rachel Sanger,
Lucy Smith, Claire Foster, Kate Gardiner, Lucy Smith, Fiona MacMillan, Ben Craft, Hope Woodd-Walker,
Timothy Whiteley, Sarah Davenport, Kate Anderson, Diana Burkill, Harriet Wilson, Poppy Moore,
Charlotte de Mille, Alexandra Lusty, Jessica Fraser, Claire Rawlins, Jan Jorek (66)
Bronze Tom Spall, Tom Bullimore, Simon Hartley, Rebecca Nicholson, Matthew Wilson, Sarah Shaw,
Richard Wilde, Lucy Smith, Richard Wilkin, Elizabeth Baker, Jan Jorek, Rosie Cresswell, Sarah McLean,
Peter Preston, Richard Gregory, Seung-bum Shin, Richard Foster, Angus Cochrane, William Johnson,
Peter Robbins, Guy Davidson, Fraser Williams, Tristan Wholey, Christopher Bruce, Richard Leggate,
Adrian Newell, Jeremy Page, Daniel Guest, Christopher Roper, Alistair Hall-Jones, Gregory Pedder,
Alexander Dalton, Michael McCoy, Matthew Bowerman, John McCurdy, Christopher Phillips, Austin Rodriquez,
Ben Craft, Georgina Maude, Alex Cooper, Dominic Jones, Helen Flint, Jessica Mills, Susan Blinch,
Hannah Deacon, Charles Archer, Rachel Pitts-Tucker, Sarah Fergus, Carolyn Feasey, Rachel Walters,
Caroline Mills, Moira Campbell, Hamish Bibby, Claire McHugh, Charlotte Hockin, Jessica Fraser, Peter Wait,
Elizabeth Mockford, Hannah Rushton, Philippa Cole, Richard Gromett, Cassie Machado, Jodie Gray, Claire gray,
Thomas Smith, Philip Ciuffardi, Guinevere Smith, Tom Francis (68)
Award Winners 1998
Gold Jenna Keighley, Claire Sullivan, Anna Shepard, Sarah Knapp, Rebecca Squirrell, Jennifer Hughes, Sarah
Owen, Sarah Rickaby, Rebecca Rowe, Katharine Norris, Sarah Gammon, Toru Miki, Thomas Hoard, Julia
Pritchett, Mark Kennedy, David Garner, Nicholas Davey, Thomas Batchelor, Miles Jupp, Kim Hogg, Poppy
Moore, Alex Bradshaw, Rhian Kelly, Katherine Sharp, Andrew Hazell, Simon Gromett, Matthew Wilson,
Madeline Riordan, Alexander Drewnicki, Maria Barefoot, Benjamin Williams, Kate Hudson, Katherine Tearle,
Thomas Rowley, Fiona Wilson, Andrew Wilson, Simon Goode, Bronwen Riordan, Hannah Gray, Alex Lawson,
Jan Jorek, Sally Johnson, Helen Martin, Pollyann Hammond, Christopher Latham, Katie Camp, Chris Soper,
Hope Woodd-Walker, Lucy Smith, Daniel Hodgson, Kate Cosgrove, Liam Woods (52)
Silver Christopher Soper, Simon Warbrick-Smith, Philippa Cole, Simon Hartley, Sarah Knapp, Benedict Gray,
Kate Cosgrove, Richard Wilkin, Olivia White, Daniel Hodgson, Cheryl Smith, Christopher Phillips, Christopher
Bruce, Michael McCoy, Charles Archer, Richard Gregory, Alex Cooper, Adrian Newell, Richard Foster, Alister
Hall-Jones, Peter Robbins, Seung-bum Shin, Alex Dalton, Jeremy Page, Rosie Kelly, Tristan Wholey, Christopher
Roper, Peter Preston, Fraser Williams, Lucy Kilmartin, William Holmes, Oliver Bond, Matthew Bowerman,
Thomas Wheeler, Guy Davidson, Claire Bairsto, Asuka Wakatsuki, Gregory Pedder, Dick Ip, Aylin Conboy,
Jessica Mills, James Galpin, Huw Lloyd, Claire Grey, Jodie Grey, Richard Leggate, John McCurdy, Susan Moss
Langfield, Felicity Gorman, Rachel Bates, Thomas Rowley, Hamish Bibby, Austin Rodriguez, Matthew
Bovington, Susan Blinch, Hannah Scott, Rachel Walters, Susan Evans, Carolyn Feasey, Guinevere Smith,
Charlotte Hochin, Mark Walker, Philip Ciuffardi, Helen Flint, Sarah Fergus, Daniel Guest, Tania McNally, Moira
Campbell, Lucy Gardiner, Rebecca Nicholson, Rachel Pitts-Tucker, Georgina Maude, Hannah Deacon, Caroline
Mills, Emma Mortimer, Chloe Amstein, Sarah Shaw, Lucy Wiggall, Margaret Holmes, Kate Tolliday, Jessica Wall,
Elizabeth Baker, Jenny Hield, Margo Chung, Alexandra Bowkett, Fiona Humpfrey, Elizabeth Mockford (87)
Bronze Benjamin Sworne, Thomas Gardner, Joseph Levy, Natalie Roberson, Max Cameron, James Galpin,
Hannah Knapp, Tania McNally, Hannah Scott, Caroline Tom, Emma Mortimer, Sarah Davies, Oliver White,
Susan Evans, Lucy Kilmartin, Suzie Moss Langfield, Andrew Wilson, Alexis Zavos, Shaun Gadher, Adam Cropper,
Matthew Dunford, Arthur Achard, James Hall, Adam Williams, Ian Jones, Sarah Dixon, Melissa Martin, Sarah
Grimmer, Karen Sells, Bryony Summers, Dilukshi Leanage, Lucy Hairsine, Lucy Scott, John Latham, Gwilym
Owen, Edward Ockleford, Thomas Gibbs, Simon Elkins, Elizabeth Cundy, Ryder Sugden, Richard Deacon,
Christophe White, Joe Anderson, Jonathan Tidd, Carolyn Macleod-Smith, Isaac Fischer, Chloe Amstein, Mark
204
Manby, Joe Johnson, Andrew Craig, Sophie Eayrs, Lucy Wiggall, Hayley Ellis, Rose Wilson, Sarah McKensie, Tara
Mounce, Hannah Nicholson (59)
Award Winners 1999
Gold Victoria Bentley, Rachel Sanger, Heather Knight, Timothy Whiteley, Fiona Humphrey, Felicity Gorman,
Kate Gardiner, Philippa Sellers, Lucy Gilman, Rosie Kelly, Aylin Conboy, Zoe Binns, Kate Anderson, Paul Knights,
William Holmes, William Rickaby, Selina Brock, Elizabeth Mockford, Tom Sharp, Diana Burkhill, Jenny Hield,
Hazel Evans, John Jones, Harriet Burnett, Caroline Ayre, Claire Gray, Christopher Phillips, Alex Chick,
Alex Cooper, Ellie Lusty, Tristan Wholey, Jessica Tinsley, Anna Tinsley, Charlotte Cassady, Caroline Mills,
Rebecca Jones, Rohan Platts, Ben Craft, Andrew Ward, Helen Flint, Alexandra Bowkett, Daniel Moore,
Margaret Holmes, Susanah Lewis (44)
Silver Selina Brock, Caroline Tom, Dominic Jones, David Woodhouse, Ben Newton, Emily Nickless,
Andrew R. Wilson, Tom Gibbs, Arthur Achard, John Latham, Jonathan Tidd, Christophe White, Simon Elkins,
Mark Manby, Oliver Burdick, Charlotte Rynn, Joseph Anderson, Alice Burt, Ian Milne, Christopher Lawson,
Robert Harris, Matthew Dunford, Alexis Zavos, Andrew Craig, Ruth Catallo, Sarah Dixon, Melissa Martin,
Tara Mounce, Aisling O’Neill, Isaac Fisher, Dilukshi Leanage, Sophie Eayrs, Elizabeth Cundy, Sarah Grimmer,
Katie Winfield, Sarah Skuse, Shaun Gadher, Richard Deacon, James Stein (39)
Bronze James Copp, Alice Burt, Aram Torosyan-Compton, Christopher Bell, Joshua Mangeot, Renaud van
Strydonck, James Jergus, Jack Davidson, Gareth Phillips, Ben Smith, Richard Norris, Rupert Bowkett, Douglas
Oldfield, Harry Few, Miriam Leigh, Sophie North, Victoria Parkinson, Michael Hart, Sebastian Taylor, Andrew
Cummine, Torben Sherwood, Roo Borrows, Matthew Roper, Edward Taylor, James Gorman, Andrew Welburn,
Bastian Bertram, Edward French, Georgina Crisp, Jenny Moran, Louise Flint,(Nathalie) Sonja TorosyanCompton, Heather Attwood, Anneka Moore, Sarah Shanks, Rebecca Curtis, Timothy Shuttleworth, Lucy SwartWilson, Anne Deacon, Alex Lydall, Rebecca Markless (43)
Award Winners 2000
Gold Caroline Tom, Claire Bairsto, Sarah Shaw, Charlotte Hockin, Matthew Bowerman, Ian Milne,
Rachel Pitts-Tucker, Jodie Gray, Carolyn Feasey, Thomas Wheeler, Caroline MacLeod-Smith, Charles Archer,
Margo Chung, Chris Bruce, Alice Shorthouse, Sarah Davenport, Emma Mortimer, Richard Gregory, Amy Sebire,
Moira Campbell, Chloe Amstein, Susie Blinch, Selina Conboy, Sarah Fergus, Katie Winfield, Fraser Williams,
Daniel Guest, Adrian Newell, Susan Evans, Christopher Roper, Alex Dalton, Peter Preston,
Matthew Bovingdon, Hannah Squirrell, Charlotte Rynn, Ruth Catallo, Sarah Skuse, Gemma Wilde, James Stein,
Emily Dove, Guy Davidson, Jessica Wall, Richard Gromett, Philippa Hurwood, Gregory Pedder, Davinia North,
Emma Pigott, Lucy Hairsine, Rebecca Leighton, Thomas Smith, Andrew R Wilson, Rebecca Gammon,
Charles Yandell, Andrew Craig, David Woodhouse (55)
Silver Joanna Camp, Hayley Ellis, Nicholas Dehnel, Caroline Macleod-Smith, Adam Cropper, Georgina Crisp,
Rachel Ball, Camilla Lawson, Lucie Scott, Peter Barklem, Harry Few, Julian Cheatle, Richard Norris,
Victoria Spencer, Kate Campbell, Karen Sells, Virginia Kemp, Hannah Squirrell, Elizabeth Towl,
Renaud van Strydonck, Joshua Mangeot, Holly Strickland, Jenny Moran, Aram Torosyan-Compton, Louisa
Rodriguez, Timothy George, James Ferrow, Rupert Bowkett, Jack Davidson, James Fergus, James Hall,
Sebastian Taylor, Roo Burrows, Richard Gromett, Hannah Kochmann, Clare Buckley, Tom Francis, Edward
French, Andrew Cummine, Rebecca Leighton, Torben Sherwood, Matthew Roper, Katie Ball, Louise SweartWilson, Ben Smith (45)
Bronze Joanna Camp, Laura Amstein, Veryan Eperon, Peter Barklem, Glyn Lloyd, Camilla Lawson,
Richard Sowter, Lauren Branagh, Holly Cole-Hawkins, Julian Cheatle, Tristan Steen, Javed Huq,
Christopher Gutteridge, Adam Miller, Stephen Dixon, Joseph Wheeler, Thomas Gregory, Laurence Edwards,
David Piper, Deborah Whitfield, Isabelle Rowe, Katy Moss, Francesca Applegate, Miriam Farley,
Tania Ryopponen, Pippa Batty, Eleanor Ball, Katherine Denbigh, Timothy Hall, Elizabeth Morrison,
Elizabeth Farrar, Holly-Ann Bartram, Timothy Dehnel, Jonathan Brayshaw, Louisa Rodriguez, Emily Minton,
205
James Ferrow, Rachel Moore, Guy Gibbeson, Virginia Kemp-Taylor, Georgina Sharpley, Caroline Reid,
Saman Harris, Hannah Kochmann, Yair Zivan, Gregory Charters, Katherine Algar, Oliver RC Smith (48)
Award Winners 2001
Gold Thomas Francis, Sarah Grimmer, Sarah Dixon, Dilukshi Leanage, Robert Harris, Jo Pritchard, Lucie Scott,
Victoria Bankes Price, Emma Mann, Hayley Ellis, Clair McHugh, Virginia Kemp, Lauren Armstrong, Mathew
Dunford, Joseph Johnson, Tim Kemp, Roo Burrows, Emma Rowley, Edward French (19)
Silver Hannah Nicholson, Miriam Leigh, Louise Flint, Anna Parker Smith, Anneka Moore, Tom Gooding,
Claire McHugh, Rachel Moore, Lauen Branagh, Charlotte Smyth, Ryder Sugden, Caroline Facey,
Elizabeth Morrison, Gregory Charters (14)
Bronze Emily Hayward, Louise E Harris, Emma Reynolds, Oliver Ford, Ben Kelliher, Edward Walsingham,
Richard Cummine, Charlotte Bown, Anna Campbell, John Mead, Amy Byatt, Caroline Newton, Kirsten Rix,
Robert Flint, James Godding, Peadair Meenan, Richard Brayshaw, Alex Swart-Wilson, Robert Hanna,
Ruth Harvey, Grace Elliot, Clare Tyler, Jessica Weldhen, Katie Eayrs, Emma Sheppard (25)
Award Winners 2002
Gold Torben Sherwood, James Gorman, Camilla Lawson, Veryan Eperon, Robbie Harris, Claire Buckley,
Lucy Hudson, Louise Flint, Hannah Deacon, Rachell Ball, Jonathan Lee, Richard Norris, Sarah East,
Sebastian Taylor, Aram Torosyan-Compton, Greg Charters, Ryder Sugden, Anna Cooper, Victoria Spencer, Joe
Anderson, Christophe White (21)
Silver Francessa Applegate, Miram Farley, Guy Gibbeson, Katherine Denbigh, Katy Moss, Laura Amsten,
Deborah Whitfield, Lucy Hudson, Jonathan Lee, Douglas Oldfield (10)
Bronze Sarah Moss, Philippa Newell, Patrick Dolby, Keith Wong, George Penders, Lindsey Cambell-Peat, Tanya
Sharma, Lucy Hudson, Hugo Jones, James Steingold, Ashley Hallam, Jack Loveday, Ben Roden,
Mathew Gardiner, Alec Cropper, Alasdair Selmes, James White, Edward Haines, Harry Clarke, Simi Bhullar,
James Simon (21)
Award Winners 2003
Gold Joseph Wheeler, Zoe Barr, Miriam Farley, Jenny Moran, Alex Miles, Miriam Leigh, Alison Anderson,
Mathew Roper, Georgina Sharpley, Matteo Cortiese, James Neal, Guy Gibbeson, Naomi Cooper,
Kathrine Denbigh, Sophie Mugleston, Georgina Crisp, Rachael Moore, Kate Cambell, Philippa Newell,
Elizabeth Farrar, Andrew Cowan, Callum Pearce, Fiona Sheenam, Stephen Dixon, Lea Bauer, (Sophie) Johanna
Clarke, Ruth Harvey, Josh Mangeot (28)
Silver Amy Byatt, Kirsten Rix, Phillippa Newell, Kate Evans, Richard Cummine, Clare Tyler, Katie Earys,
Emma Reynolds, Louise Harris, Emily Wilson, Ruth Harvey, Robert Hanna, Charlotte Bown, Alice Nickless,
Georgina Sharpley, Harry Loweth, Callum Pearce, Louise Knight, Georgina Saunders, Simi Bhullar,
Gabby Romeo, Andrew Cowan, Hugh Storer, Kate Dixon, Suzi Adcock, Ben Kelliher, Isobel Greenlees,
Sara Galvez, Caroline Gibbeson, Caroline Newton, John Mead, Charles Bromwich, Claire Ferraro,
Edward Haines, Alasdair Selmes, Jack Loveday, Peter Salmon, Victoria Harris, Robert Flint, Signory Ip Sik-man,
Grace Elliot, George Pender, Katrina Svennevik, Lindsay Campbell-Peat, Katherine Coleman, Louise Evans,
Hannah Poppy, Andrew Fisher, Sam Galson, Tanya Sharma, Sarah Moss, Liam Thomson, Edward Hall (53)
Bronze James McGrath, James Clegg, Alex Keal, Isobel Greenless, Louise Evans, Louise Knight, Jessica Kerchiss,
Gabby Romeo, Jenny Sutclifffe, Katherine Coleman, Alice Larkworthy, Suzi Adcock, Beccy Saleeb,
Hannah Poppy, Kate Dixon, Victoria Harris, Isabelle Bromage, Alice Farrar, Sam Galston, Natsumi Nagashima,
Hugh Storer, Jack Cullen, Gareth Hughes, Samuel Wills, William Bennet, Annabel Shaw, Katie Chrimes,
Zoe O`Huiginn, Emma Kerruish, Robyn Hart, Murdiany Van Hien, Alfred Shu-Chung Yan, Claire Ferraro,
Amelia Handley, Melissa Redcliffe, Charlotte Brundle, Lydia Farley, Victoria Mew, Rosalyn Harvey,
206
Felicity Furness, Caroline Gibbeson, Ben Butler, Perry Ng Pak Lin, Andrew Harvey, Hugo Sanders, Bruno Major,
Angelica Finnegan, Vijitthep Thammavijitdej, Collette Hogg, Charlotte Farmer-Day, Ben Kinch,
Alexander Mapletoft, Paul Chan, Hannah Green, Edward Woolley, Nick Holden, Andrew Fisher, Arabella James,
Georgiana Applegate, James (J.W.S.) Cooke, Rob Shuttleworth, Katie Lamb, Mark Collier, Sophy Woltman,
Hannah Whitcombe, Lucy Moores (66)
Award Winners 2004
Gold Kirsten Rix, Lucy Morgan, Owen Cheverton, Dominic Jones, Andrew Fisher, Deborah Whitfield,
Katie Eayrs, Isabelle Rowe, Jonathan Sanger, Clarke Tyler, Charlotte Bown, Tom Middleton, Louise Harris,
Peadair Meenan, Kate Evans, Ben Kelliher, James Mugleston, Rober Ockleford, Hannah Poppy,
Isobel Greenlees, Lindsay Campbell- Peat, Joanna Camp, Louise Bond, Katie Campbell, Tanya Sharma, Harry
Clarke, Alasdair Selmes (28)
Silver Jessica Kerchiss, Ben Roden, Harry Clarke, James Clegg, Jonathan White, Amy Rawlins, Robert Ockleford,
Alison Larkworthy, Jack Cullen, Anna Campbell, Tom Middleton, Alice Farrar, James Blaza, Lucy Moores,
Graham Hughes, Natsumi Nagashima, Louise Bond, Nicholas Henbrey, Rosalyn Harvey, Victoria Cowan,
Melissa Redcliffe, Hannah Cheverton, Hugo Sanders, Alec Cropper, James (J.W.S.) Cooke, Charlie Brundle,
Vijitthep Thammavijitdej, Dmitriy Andreev, Eleanor Kilpatrick, Andy Lane, Annabel Shaw, William Bennet,
Francesca Flavell, Hannah Whitcombe, Emma Pudney, Helen Aspinall, Edward Woolley, Kym Shaen-Carter,
Alison Buckley (39)
Bronze Michael Pengelly, Jonathan White, Hannah Christie, Holly Reynolds, Sophie Kelliher, Sarah Scott,
Robert Ockleford, Lucy O`Connor, Erin Meenam, Hannah Cheverton, Emily Healey, Tom Middleton, Freddie
Guinness, Jess Firmston-Williams, Charlotte McIntosh, Tessa Svennevik, Helen Aspinall, Victoria Welburn, Lucy
Holt, Olivia Rowe, Alison Rose, Kate Mead, Navin Leanage, Eleanor Kilpatrick, Dmitriy Andreev, Natasha Dalton,
Hannah Lawson-West, Oliver Burns, Nina Parker, Tanya Anandan, Imogen Swart-Wilson, Daniel Gannon,
Thomas Wragg, Luke Barrett, Katherine Clegg, Tom Summerton, Emma Fox, Matt Allsop, Emma Allen,
Katherine Pattisson, Stephanie Brayshaw, Rachel Hollis, Jne Booth, Adeline Drabble, Rachel Tongue, Charles
Cooper, Erica Elliott (47)
Award Winners 2005
Gold Anna Campbell, Holly Rhodes, Max Sellers, Alice Farrar, Kate Dixon, Caroline Gibbeson, Edward Sharpley,
Simran Bhullar, Georgina Saunders, Edward Haines, Louise Knight, Jack Loveday, James Stiengold,
Mathew Gardiner, Jack Casbon, Abigail Hart, Lucy Mcintosh, Emma Pudney, Katrina Svennevik,
Katherine Coleman, Jessica Ferrow, Luke Taylor, Robert Flint, Suzi Adcock, Sarah Scott, Claire Ferraro, Andrew
Harvey, Alvin Tsang Wai Yin, Erik Jacobi, Hannah Whitcombe (30)
Silver Ben Butler, Rebecca Simpson, Nick Hodden, Lydia Farley, Emily Healey, Andrew Harvey, Amelia Handley,
Jennie Bromwich, James Crisp, Edward Sharpley, Avantika Sunder Raj, Holly Rhodes, Adeline Drabble,
Tessa Svennevik, Perry Ng Pak Lin, Robyn Hart, Natasha Dalton, Tanya Anandan, Jane Booth, Beccy Saleeb,
Mathew Gardiner, Holly Reynolds, Emma Fox, Charlotte Mcintosh, Imogen Swart-Wilson, Emma Kerruish,
Holly Kerruish, Vivian Keung, Katherine Clegg, Diana Sowter, Byron Graham, Caroline Eperon, Matt Allsop,
Tom Wragg, Rachel Hollis, Sonja Compton, Alexander Mapletoft, Daniel Gannon, James Haythornthwaite, Viki
Welburn, Mark Butterfield, Gerry Lui, Patrick Firmager, Sarah Scott, Denis Zolotarev, Navin Leanage, Sophy
Woltman, Holly Westmoreland, Anna Tyler, Stephanie Brayshaw, Tom Summerton (51)
Bronze Caroline Eperon, Patrick Firmager, Martyn Denney, Katie Wolfe, Denis Zolotarev,
James Haythornthaite, Vivien Keung, James Crisp, Holly Rhodes, Edward Sharpley, Tim Ball, Terence Lok,
Thomas Foster-Smith, Holly Kerruish, Matt Levy, Oliver Paul, Alexi Clarke, Edmund Salmon, Zachary Cave,
Elizabeth Fox, Chris Jackson, Lewis Sillery, Emily Clingain, Adam Masters, John Veasey, Chris Brown,
Jacob Galson, Afandy Van Hien, Daniel Tomlinson, Ben Kenneally, Hyin-Jun Cho, Alexander Wyall,
James Montagu, Gareth Peters, Tim Bradley, Diana Sowter, Sarah Kennedy, Katie Beanland, Vicki McDavid,
Sam Hoskins, Sam Patterson, Byron Graham, Emma Sanders, Max Knipe, Naalie Bevis-White, Ben Bowman,
John Green, Tom Chinnery, James Day, Ali Marsh, Angus Bayley, Lee Dilkes, Katherine Man, Victoria Adams,
207
Alex Brundle, Isabelle Gilks, Meghan Jones, Anna Tyler, Anish Patel, Oliver Hammond, Ben Jarvis, James Hurst,
Charlotte Johnson, Edward Holmes, Francis Rankin, Torsten Sherwood, Kim Smith, Sam Brooke,
Sophie Hughes, Jessica Dixon, Octavia Thompson, Katie Bryant, Daniella Romeo (73)
Award Winners 2006
Gold Vijitthep Thammavijitthep, Edward Taylor, Waiyin Tsang, Sophie Sanders, Charles Bromwich,
Jennie Bromwich, Rebecca Simpson, Lucy Moores, Avantika Sunder Raj, Chris Beardsmore, Anne Gromett,
Patrick Dolby, Alice Larkworthy, Robyn Hart, Annabel Shaw, Eleanor Kilpatrick, Christian Walsh, Christie Walsh,
Lydia Farley, Kirsty Charters, Hannah Cheverton, Nick Holden, Alexander Mapletoft, Charlotte Farmer-Day,
Luke Walker, Amelia Handley, Gabriella Romeo, Victoria Cowan, Laura Dunn, Amy Dunn, James (J.W.S.) Cooke,
Diana Sowter, Hugo Saunders, Collette McHugh, Katie Chrimes, Bertie Bayley, Navin Leanage, Jessica FirmstonWilliams, Victoria Welburn, Adeline Drabble, Tessa Svennevik (41)
Silver Emma Allen, John Green, Katherine Pattison, Angus Bayley, Martyn Denney, Anne Gromett,
Patrick Dolby, Rachel Tongue, Jamie Walton, Meghan Jones, Felicity Furness, Emily Clingain, Eleanor Stamp,
Charlotte Farmer-Day, Alice Lee-Fox, Sarah Kennedy, Tim Bradley, Matt Levy, Hym-Jun Cho, Adam Masters,
Elizabeth Fox, Daniel Tomlinson, Jacob Galson, Laura Dunn, Amy Dunn, Hannah Green, Alex Clarke,
James Motagu, Katie Chrimes, Kim Smith, Lewis Sillery, Katie Bryant, Sam Brooke, Oliver Hammond,
Emma Saunders, Chris Brown (36)
Bronze Antonia Walton, Jennifer Newsom, John Faye, Mark Valentine, Jamie Hosie, Kevin Bridle, Alice Gasson,
Ellie Stamp, Charlotte Knight, Anne Gromett, Alice Lee-Fox, Jess Giles, Nicola Stafford, Maranda Applegate,
Ryan Keal, Catherine Kent, Simon Rutter, Lucy Cadel, Ellen Grifffiths,Katherine Mann, Duncan Selmes, Sophie
Elliot, Katie Summerton, Daniel Burdun, Gordon Bates, Oliver Wolfe, Jamie Sumner, Katherine Lok, William
Lewis, Anne Pollock, Georgina Henley, Alex Clarke, James Rix, Tryce Vane Percy, Beau Gadsby, Guy
Westmoreland, Rowena Clarke, Jennifer Li, Alex Blaza, Amy Davis, Sarah Mew, Alina van Hien, Betsy Kilpatrick,
Lyle Copeland, Richard Padley, Charlie Day, Sebastian Hill, William Bradshaw (48)
Award Winners 2007
Gold Anna Tyler, Jeremy Green, Alexandra Bryant, Thomas Jackson, Vivien Keung, Emily Healey,
Mathew Bowerman, Edward Chrimes, John Green, James Haythornthwaite, Russel Bond, Rachel Hollis,
Patrick Firmager, Katie Wolfe, Richard Willis, Tom Foster-Smith, Martin Denny, Philip Guy, Matt Allsop,
Jane Booth, Caroline Eperon, Rebecca Whitmore, Alex Cutteridge, Lindsay Selmes, Charlie Brundle,
Alexandra Middleton, Tanya Anandan, Katherine Clegg, Ben Butler, Gareth Hughes, Joana Stefaniak, Anish
Patel, Lucy Young, Meghan Jones, Angus Bayley, Adam Masters, Charlotte Johnson, Charlotte McIntosh, Sophie
Piper, Tom Summerton (40)
Silver Anish Patel, James Hurst, Antonia Walton, Alice Gasson, Thomas Foster-Smith, Francis Rankin,
Edward Holmes, Zach Cave, Natalie Bevis-White, Georgina Henley, Alex Clarke, Katie Wolfe, Anne Pollock,
Charlotte Knight, Jennifer Li, Luke Barrett, Alina Van Hien, Sarah Mew, Duncan Selmes, Lucy Cadel,
Richard Whitmore, Jossie Drabble, Katie Summerton, Alex Blaza, Catherine Kent, Annie Kerr, Ryan Tounge (27)
Bronze Sarah Pollard, Charlotte Brand, Graham Hill, Rhiannon Davies, Katie Robertson, Rupert Earl,
Sarah Healey, Elizabeth Kendall, Miche Pears, Hannah Whiting, Jossie Drabble, Harriet Baker, Ryan Tongue,
Lily Jackson, Jamie Dowell, Mathew Counsell, Laura Smettem, Samuel Quenby, Robert Binks, David Wilkinson,
Christopher Brice, Jack Rigby, Edward Tombs, Chris Gray, James McCormack, John Inman, Calum Bryant,
Alexia Lechie, Amy Jones, Sophie Williams, Joe Beckett, Richard Whitmore, Rishi Patel, Alexandra Svennevik,
Emma Spector, Alexandra Kessick, Thomas Chiu, Justin Wretham, Tom Wyatt, Charlie Crossfield, Emily Wragg,
Alice Liddell, Sarah Pattisson, Lucy Huggins, Alice Patrick, Grace Sumner, Megan Scott, Luke Gormley, Rory
James, Tom Cowhan (50)
208
Award Winners 2008
Gold Tim Bradley, William Nicholls, Alice Lee-Fox, Alex Clarke, Elizabeth Fox, Daniel Tomlinson,
Miranda Applegate, Oliver Hammond, Adele Newman, Katie Bryant, Hyun Jun Cho, Max Knipe, Gerry Lui,
Emily Clingain, Sam Brooke, Alex Wyatt, Holly Westmorland, Byron Graham, Zachery Cave, Lewis Sillery,
Victoria Adams, Chris Brown, Erica Elliot, Hanna Schmidt, James Montagu, Annie Kerr, Georgina Henley,
Lucy Cadel, Jonathan Brayshaw, Fabian Taylor, Adrian Chong, Hannah Lawson-West, Jocelyn Drabble,
Kathryn Birks, Andrew Cummine (35)
Silver John Faye, Alice Swift, Hannah Whiting, Charlotte Brand, Tryce Vane Percy, Sarah Healey,
Elizabeth Kendall, Miche Pears, Oliver Wolfe, Olivia Watts, Rebecca Scott, Ben Jarvis, Miranda Applegate,
Hannah Lawson-West, Graham Hill, Sarah Pollard, Erica Elliot, Victoria Adams, Emma Spector, Sarah Pattisson,
Claire Juggins, Emily Wragg, Alex Pringle (23)
Bronze Becky McCleaver, Rebecca Scott, Chris Austin, Eleanor Ball, Olivia Johnston, Robert Jones,
Amelia Johnson, Mathew Tomlinson, Ben Chamberlain, Amy Ewing, Beatrice Cooper, Oliver Hammond,
Hanan Abdul-Rahim, Lydia Kelly, Edward Langford, Dominique Shelton, Tom Johnson, Joe Davis, Will Morris,
Adrian Zenteno-Hernandez, Will Crossley, Sarah Pollard, Francine Counsell, Chris Billows, Eliza Walter, Koren
Randell, Lucy Fergusson, Emma Denby, Katie Cook, Amanda Van Hien, Andy Whitaker, Beth Smith, Callum
French (33)
Award Winners 2009
Gold Victoria McDavid, Alice Davidson, James Lishman, Richard Padley, Emma Fox, Xaver Mayer,
Victoria Harris, Jack Manley, Victoria Shacketon, Poppy Whitbread, Graham Hill, Sohie Flavell, Rosalyn Harvey,
Alice Swift, Emily Leefe, Duncan Selmes, Emily Weiner, Natasha Dalton, Chris Jackson (19)
Silver William Lewis, Lyle Copeland, Rishi Patel, Victoria McDavid, Anita Lee Yuen-Kwan, Lily Jackson, Tom
Cowman, Jack Rigby, Jess Riley, Alice Liddell, Richard Padley, Alice Patrick, Alexandra Svennevik, Leionie Strak,
Oliver Holland, Callum French, Koren Randell, Armand Van Hien, Christina Stout, Robert Jones, Will Crossley,
Will Morris, Selina Denton, Lydia Kelly, Emily Houghton, Alice Kent, Jessica Craig, Lucy Craig, Sinead Walker,
Katie Cook, Annabel Hammond, Lauren Wretham, Emily Weiner, Francine Counsell, Samuel Alex Blake (35)
Bronze Anthony Lai See Chuan, Spence Gadsby, Sinead Walker, Isabel Odriozola, Isobel Neill-Smith, Zac
Boffey, Mallory Cave, Kathleen Dolby, Sam Blake, Emily Houghton, Jake Sanders, Alex Cooke, Leonie Strak,
Kitty Tonner, Sophie Cornish, Purin Waranikkan, Annabel Hammond, Oliver Whiting, Charlotte Bolland,
Catherine Burrows, Anna Newsum, Ben Rowbotham, Cathy Lear, Hugo Bishop, Amber Hoskins,
James Lowsley Williams, Lauren Wretham, Rayyan Anwar, Selina Denton, Charlie Morrell, Jessie Thorpe,
Travis Oxley, Amelia Steele, Harriet Stovin, Emma Wynne, Alanna Fairley, Harry Anders, James Henley,
Matt Ramsden, Ella Ward, Richard Pollock, Maxwell Kelly, Ella Grimoldby, Lauren Wretham, Emma Wilson,
Dillan Mistry, Briony Key, Ella Ward, William Cowan, Alice Kent, Isabelle Cashin, Kate Mullinger, Katie Rogers,
Francis Loring, Tom Paddock, Andrew Jarvis, Shona Sharma, Katherine Dellow, Georgie Redington,
Philip Leaning, Lucy Beardmore-Gray, Grace Gamble, Georgia Carr, Emily Firston-Williams, Lucy Cuthbert,
Jenny Boyd, Hannah Boddy, (Samuel) Alex Blake, Sophie Canham (64)
Award Winners 2010
Gold Alexander Brundle, Christian Gray, Michael Overton, Katie Beanland, Catherine Kent, Oliver Bramford,
Joe Knowles, Tom Cowman, Tobias Rooney, April Kenneally, Charles Hamnett, William Bunn, Laura Sparkes,
Helena Wells, Simon Pratt, Melisa Redcliffe, Jack Steele, Christopher Jackson, Natasha Dalton, Rishi Patel, Lotty
Morris, Alice Maynard, Edward Tombs, Pip Subbs, Emma Spector, Lily Jackson, Sophie Barr, Jessica Craig,
Alexander Mapletoft, Tom Wyatt, Luje Gormley, Lyle Copeland (32)
Silver Gordon Bates, Christian Gray, Beth Smith, Michael Overton, April Kenneally, Charles Hamnett,
Annabel Heron, Lucy Cuthbert, Cathy Lear, Frances Loring, Alex Cooke, Sophie Canham, Phoebe Gormley,
209
Alanna Fairley, Ella Ward, Amelia Steele, Oliver Whiting, Harriet Stovin, Oscar Briggs, James Henley,
Dillian Mistry, Emma Wynne, Isobel Neill-Smith, Lucy Beardmore-Gray (24)
Bronze Emily Chrimes, Niamh O’Driscoll, Jessica Elmer, April Kenneally, George Wood, Ethan Brooks,
James McCaskie, William Honey, Leonora Cashin, Phoebe Gormley, Harry Goodridge, Lizzie Robertson,
Matthew Clough, Stuart Knight, Ami Patterson, Harriet Hammond, Thomas Lilley, Angus Inman, Joseph Burgin,
Julia Bahlsen, Tom Cheer, Ben Curtis, Ben Hills, Tom Beadman, George Douglas-Weston, Isabelle Storer,
Pollyanna Robson, Alex Chell, Madeleine Hopper, Stephanie Hollick, Will Frost, Tom Weighton, Alex Barton,
Sam Ewing, Flora Hamilton, Bianca Gillam, James Davis, Hannah Done, Freya Pilbeam, Georgina Shepherd (40)
Award Winners 2011
Gold Sinead Walker, Amelia Webster, Amelia Johnson, Will Crossley, Rosanagh Paul, Selina Denton, William
Morris, Edward Langford, Ella Ward, James Woodcock, Sarah Healey, Andre Depasse, Sahil Rikhye, Tamarin de
Kock, Emma Denby, Thomas Johnson, Phillipa Nicholas, Rory Young, James Hornby, Laurence Sutton, Emily
Houghton, Charlotte Morrell, Christian Walsh, James Henley, Katherine Dellow, Dillan Mistry, Jessie Thorpe,
Phoebe Gormley, Sam Allen, Hannah Green, Lydia Kelly, Natasha Branch, Caroline Chinnery (33)
Silver Harriet Thresh, Jenny Boyd, Georgina Carr, Jess Elmer, Kate Mullinger, Emily Nagel, Charlie Morrell,
Matthew Tomlinson, James Nicholls, Briony Key, Katie Rogers, Lizzie Robertson, Julia Bahlsen, Will Honey, Lucy
Johnson, Amy Jones, Shona Sharma, Andrew Jarvis, Sophie Cornish, Ethan Brooks, Jessie Thorpe, Leonora
Cashin, Emma Wilson, Will Frost, Tom Beadman, Tom Johnson, Helen Waltham, Emily Chrimes, Summer
Davies, George Douglas-Weston, Pollyann Robson, Georgina Shepherd, Hannah Done, Hattie Hammond, Philip
Leaning , Katherine Dellow, Stephanie Hollick, Alex Chell, Ellie Canham (39)
Bronze Harriet Thresh, Mia Walsh, Annabel Jackson, Sam Branch, Alex Long, Jack Lane, Sam Matheson, Olivia
Stables, Jason Leong, Jay Kadiwar, Tom Bacon, Natasha Merrick, Phoebe Khan, Tom McDavid, Harriet
Whitbread, George Veliov, Alice McLaren, Gail Braybock, Natasja Jozsa, Katie Williams, Helen Waltham, James
Nicholls, Lucy Johnson, Max Young, Oliver Hadfield, Susie Bower-Brown, Anna Maitland, Elizabeth Healey, Jack
Crace, Olivia Makey, Maddy Revill, Natalie Wu, Megan Nagel, Isobel Guy, Katie Crowley, Max Tomlinson ,
Amelia Wynne, Anna Batt, Josh Adlam, Seb Hay, Sam Barson, Gabriela Florijn, Emily Locke, Edward Boyd,
Robert Hampton, Dominic Walsh, Ellie Canham, Suzy Houghton, Nadine Clift, Brenna Horrox, Oliver Allman
(51)
Award Winners 2012
Gold George Camamile, James Tidd, Emily Chrimes, Matthew Counsell, Max Kelley, Amelia Steele, Alanna
Fairley, Frances Loring, Oliver Whiting, Dilkson Wong, Matthews Tomlinson, Harriet Stovin, Emma Wilson, Lucy
Cuthburt, Jessica Elmer, Emma Wynne , James Nicholls, Eleanor Manby, Emily Firston Williams, Lucy
Whitamore, Andrew Jarvis, Andrew Foster-Yeow, William Frost, Martin Vrieson, Katie Cook, Laura
Wheatcroft, Oliver Allman, Ethan Brooks, Koren Randell, Josef Nicholson, Eleanor Manby, David Wilkinson,
Lucy Childs, Angus Bower-Brown, Belinda Mcnaught, Isabella Bevan, Leonora Bevan, Gemma Moody, Harry
Goodridge, Megan Matheson, Tilda Hamilton-Ivory, James Davis, Alex Long, Jack Lane (44)
Silver Ben Curtis, Tom Cheer, Harry Rigby, Freya Pilbeam, Alex Barton, Polly Bagshaw, George Cowman, Angus
Inman, Jay Kadiwar, Harry Batt, Sam Matheson, James Davis, Thomas Lilley, Natasha Merrick, Phoebe Khan,
Mia Walsh, Annabel Jackson, Georgi Velikov, Olivia Stables , James McCaskie, Isabelle Storer, Tilda HamiltonIvory, Emily Firmston Williams, Anna Maitland, Isobel Guy, Natalie Wu, Hidemi Saito, Arabella Trower, Emily
Locke, Maddy Revill, Zoe Borthwick, Ed Boyd, Tome Johnson, Francis Tuftail-Smith, Sam Branch, Oliver Allman,
Katie Crowley , Sam Barson, Harry Goodridge, Megan Matheson, Max Tomlinson, Brenna Horrox, Hannah
Gormley, Georgia Morrell, Anna Batt, Jack Lane, Alex Long, Thomas Hawkins, George Fox, Charles Wilson,
Amelia Davidson, Edward Henley, James Henley, Megan Nagel (54)
Bronze Bronze Thomas Gorman, Lucy Roberts, Trisha Mistry, Philippa Elmer, Sophie Howes, Rachel Dias,
Ashley Bird, Annabel Briggs, Hina Hadfield, Claudia Kwong, Eleanor Maxim, Georgina White, Martha Kirk,
Stuart Doughty, Robert Whitlock, Laura Steere, Eleanor Smart, Frances Haselton, Eleanor Burgin, Esther
210
Hamilton-Ivory, Harriet Gibson, Verity Smiley-Jones, George Painter, Charlotte Gillam, Matthew Curtis, Eleanor
Watson, Anna Heefeli. Rachel Wales, Fraser Marshal, James Loydall, Henry Clifford-Smith, Jonathan Doku,
Armelia Bargh, Joshua Greaves, Edward Farmer, Charles Hopewell, Joshua Glensmark, Ifor Cook, James Uppal,
Joe Martin, Rory Brooke, Sophie Green, Gregory Sale, James Dermott, Abigail Chell, Samuel Branch, Stuart
Ralston, Alister Golby, Hugh Hammond, James Jip, Harry Bysouth-Kemp, Ben Brigstock, Jasper Goddard, Dylan
Churchill, Charlotte Atkin, Silas Mason, Jessica Hay, Hannah Stafford, Harriet Merriman, Emily Booth, Tom
Jacques, Guy Stovin, Amelia Davidson, Max Young, Helen Waltham, Alexandra Demetri, William Butterworth,
Edmund Miles, Jack Lee, Joe Rigby, Emily Foley, William Godwin, Phoebe Greetham, Christian Pilbeam,
Catherine Bland, Charlotte Garton, Harry Allman, Henry Boddy, Barnaby Carr, Julius Crutchley, Ella Lloyd-Jones,
Henry Merrick, Leon Patel-Champion, Oren Patel-Champion, Tristan Ropel, Beatrix Wignall, Polly Bagshaw,
Alex Barton, Thomas Bacon, Abigail Mustard, Lucy Johnson, Sarah Kent, Joseph Burgin [93]
Award Winners 2013
Gold Harry Batt, Phillip Tomb, Isobel Neill-Smith, Josiah Knight, Helen Waltham, Isabelle Storer, Emily Foley,
Jenny Boyd, Annabel Jackson, Kay Kadiwar, William Thompson, Alexandra Chell, Tom Bradshaw, Annika
Hentschael, Mia Walsh, Hattie Hammond, Natasha Merrick, Charlotte Alston, Phoebe Greetham, Stephanie
Hollick, Hannah Done, Isabelle Ingles, Susannah Houghton, Flora Hamilton, Abigail Stephenson, Olivia Makey,
Olivia Stables, Henrietta Gittus, Frederick Gittus, Joseph Burgin, Sam Matheson, Oliver Whiting, Kevin Riley,
Millie Gibbobs (34)
Silver Mike Lear, Toby Cubbins, Oliver Roddis, Sussanah Bower-Brown, Olivia Carrell, Alex Fowle,
Frances O'Leary, Florance Schanschieff, Jack Crace, William Needham, Harry Batt, Max Young, Helen
Waltham, Andrew Highfield, Emily Foley, Jenny Boyd, Phoebe Greetham, Edmond Miles, William
Fox, Harry Allman, Barnaby Carr, Leon Patel-Champion, Oren Patel-Champion, Henry Body,
Matthew Rose, James Butterworth, Flora Squires, Lucy Aldous, Charlotte Towell, Triston Ropel,
Stuart Doughty, Gregory Sale, Ethan Brooks, Charlotte Garton, Tom Gorman, Jessica Hay, Emily
Booth, Madeleine Pugh, Sophie Green, Abigail Chell, Laura Steere, Abigail Mustard, James Dermott,
Rory Brooke, Jack Lee (45)
Bronze Max Young, Helen Waltham, Will Butterworth, Edmund Miles, Jack Lee, Joe Rigby, Emily
Foley, William Godwin, Suzzanna Houghton, Phoebe Greetham, Christian Pilbeam, Joseph Burgin,
Rebecca West, Lucinda Charlesworth, Hannah Watson, Ben Maitland, William Guy, Ffion Martin,
Louis Rawlings, Harry Tebbutt-Wheat, Megan Bevan, Henry Gomm, Nicholas Davies, Timothy Viney,
Tom Keir, Hannah Lockington, Francessca Lang, Georgina Vartan , Catherine Bland (29)
211
212
214
Award Officers / Managers at Oakham School
1960-1969
T.C.M. (Mike) Rees
1969-1975
H.Y. (Hugh) Hunter
1976-1998
Brian Needham, MBE
1998-2002
Mark Durose
2002-2009
Terry Dixon
2009-present
Steve Gorman
Section Leaders at Oakham School
It is much to be regretted that since a complete and accurate list of these vital people cannot be produced,
it is felt that a necessarily partial list would be the wrong action to take. A good number of individuals
have been mentioned in the preceding text, but by no means all.
Before girls came into the school, all DofE activity (all of it in a walking expedition variety) came under
the Award Officer, and the numbers involved were of a size that did not make it necessary to divide the
undertaking into sections. But then came the girls into the CCF and the Award in 1973, and the girls’
section was run separately to the boys’ section, but both under the overall control of the Award Officer
(who also ran the boys’ section). Then with the coming of canoeing and cycling options in 1985, both
originally just for girls but soon also involving boys, these two sections took on an independent role,
although again still operating under the Award Officer. Canoeing never split into Bronze / Silver / Gold
sections, given the relatively small numbers involved, but Cycling did (at first into a Bronze section
separate to the combined Silver and Gold section, but then as now into all three). The Horseriding section
was entirely separate (there only ever being the one group of girls who went from Bronze through to
Silver), as is the Sailing Section now, with too few participants to sub-divide it into Bronze / Silver / Gold.
The Walking sections remained divided into Boys and Girls, with one member of staff in charge of each
section (Boys Walking and Girls Walking); within those two sections, soon numbers meant a subdivision
into Bronze / Silver / Gold; now (as described above) the Walking sections are divided into Monday /
Friday, with Bronze / Silver / Gold sub-divisions within them.
So a complex structure has evolved for a very complex undertaking, and the Award at Oakham has been
dependent entirely on the expertise and goodwill of all those members of staff who have taken on
sectional responsibility, for varying lengths of time, and organised around themselves other members of
staff, friends, and Old Oakhamians to run the Scheme in the field. The weakness of this divisional nature
and their attachment to the academic years (Bronze is Fourth Form, Silver is Fifth Form, and Gold is
Sixth - and perhaps Seventh Form) is that unless a participant gains the relevant award in the relevant
year (entirely possible, although something of a push at Gold if each of the four sections is not
commenced immediately the Silver section is completed, provided the participant is 16), there is seldom
pressure from the new Section Leader to ensure completion of the lower Award, with concentration being
on the new higher level now being followed. The actual gaining of awards, rather than simple
participation in the award process (valuable in itself), is a national problem, and while Oakham does
better than most, even so there is too much non-completion.
Nor can the vital work of the two Quartermasters, first David “Chalky” White and now David Thorpe,
escape commendation, especially when both have involved themselves actively in the field.
216
This edition of the pamphlet produced by The Reprographics Department of Oakham School
Edition 2014/04
217

The Duke of Edinburgh`s Award Oakham School 1960-2014

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