North Tyneside Council is appealing for residents who have completed a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award over the last 60 years to share their memories, as part of a national celebration of the scheme in its Diamond Jubilee year.
The council’s Participation and Advocacy team now oversee the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme in the borough and are planning a celebration event at the end of June, involving Award–holders going back over the decades.
So far, the team have collected some records and press cuttings going back to 1974, but are keen to hear from people with their own memories, stories and photographs.
Press cuttings gathered up to now by the team include stories of eight girls who collected their Gold awards at a civic reception at Wallsend Town Hall in 1980; and a 24-year-old partially-sighted lady from Shiremoor, who completed a 17-mile hike in 1978 with her guide dog for the expedition part of the scheme.
Anyone who would like to contribute their own stories or photographs is asked to get in touch, by calling (0191) 643 8587, emailing helen.jarvis@northtyneside.gov.uk, or via Twitter @NTynesideDofE.
More information about the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme can be found online atwww.dofe.org.