St Mary's Calne
We were all delighted to see recent Alumnae (2022, 2021 Leavers) who had recently completed their Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award as guests of honour at a Garden Party in the Buckingham Palace Garden held to celebrate their achievement. The celebration saw The Duke of Edinburgh – who received his own Gold Award from his father Prince Philip at nearby St James’s Palace in 1986 – congratulate attendees in a speech from the Palace’s West Terrace. The Duke also met Award holders, hearing about the positive impact their DofE has had on them.
Mrs Diana Harrison, who was there with daughter Belinda (2021 Leaver), said of the experience:
‘It was wonderful to meet up with the Calne girls enjoying the Garden Party at the Buckingham Palace together. Gold DofE is a tremendous undertaking, but also an amazing experience, and to be able to celebrate in such style truly recognises the value of the challenge that the Gold DofE Award holders have successfully completed.’
‘It was fantastic celebration; one that we will always remember.’
The Buckingham Palace Garden was transformed into a festival-style celebration with giant deckchairs, bunting, and garden games and activities. Attendees had the chance to hear from famous DofE Award holders, sporting legends and international adventurers, and pick up career advice from actors, presenters, authors and entrepreneurs, at stages throughout the Garden.
The Gold DofE programme is a non-competitive personal challenge, open to all young people, which takes a minimum of 12 months to complete. Young people build their own programmes with activities in five sections – Physical, Skills, Volunteering, a five-day Residential and a four-day Expedition.
Congratulations to all our Gold DofE Award holders!