One of the groups in the afternoon sun

The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is the chosen co-curricular activity for many students at Malvern College. The scheme has a proven record of pushing the endurance level of participants. One of last year’s ‘gold’ achievers commented, “The Duke of Edinburgh course was challenging and sometimes I wondered if I would cope. It really taught me a lot of things about myself.”

Through the stages of Bronze, Silver and Gold those involved are required to complete a number of different tasks and fulfill a number of commitments. These range from relative minor activities at the College to exciting expeditions.

Last Sunday fifteen Duke of Edinburgh Gold participants braved the elements to complete a 15km walk in brilliant sunshine. Walking in groups of five, with an instructor, they circled around the Radnor Forest horsehoe, honing their navigation skills to visit, the Whimble, Bache Hill, Black Mixen and Great Rhos.

Ascending the Whimble in virgin snow

The conditions were great fun necessitating wading through knee deep drifts of soft powder snow, which added an extra hour to the normal walking time. Biting north east winds added to the windchill, especially on the exposed Bache Hill.

Photographs taken by Jen Heller, House 8.

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