Thanks to Alan for this report about Alice and Carla’s great achievement. Ed
Two young women from the Isle of Wight travelled to St. James’ Palace in London recently to meet HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.
Alice Burton and Carla Fisher achieved their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards and had already been presented with their badges at a ceremony in County Hall, Newport earlier this year.
A chance to meet other Gold Award holders
At St. James’ Palace they met 350 other Gold Award holders from across the country who included many from South East Region of which the Island forms part.
This Region was allocated the Queen Anne Room for the presentations where Carol Taverner, IW Council Development Officer for D of E, was a Marshall and Astrid Davies from IW Council a guest.
Kayaking on the River Wye
Prince Edward met and spoke with Carol who mentioned to the prince that two participants were from the Isle of Wight. Prince Edward enquired of Alice and Carla how they had undertaken their Gold expedition. Both young women explained how they had taken part in a Kayaking expedition on the River Wye.
Over the last two years as part of their gold award, the pair have each taken part in one of a variety of activities including a sponsored swim, hosting fund raising meals and helping raise £3,000 for the Earl Mountbatten Hospice at Newport. Carla also took part in a charity trek along the Great Wall of China.
Duke meets Suzanne Whitewood MBE
After speaking with a number of other recipients the Duke of Wessex moved on to meet VIP guests.
These included a stalwart of the scheme from the Isle of Wight, Suzanne Whitewood MBE who attained her Gold Award 45 years ago and is still involved today as D of E Group Leader at Carisbrooke College and D of E Advisor to Girlguiding IW.
Classical actor Simon Callow, CBE gave the recipients from South East Region their certificates after detailing his own career. Simon said he had wanted to be a writer but became an actor by default.
