Duke of Edinburgh Gold award

It was a red-letter day by royal appointment for five former pupils from King's College in Taunton last week. They travelled up to London to St James' Palace, where they met the Duke of Edinburgh, and were presented with their Duke of Edinburgh Gold awards by Tom Avery, the famous polar explorer.

The five worked for over a year in the sixth form at King's on the various activities involved in the highly coveted gold award. These include planning and executing a four-day expedition, taking part in a residential experience, and working for others in the community. Their expeditions took them as far afield as the Czech Republic , the Lake District and the Brecon mountains.

Duke of Edinburgh Award co-ordinator at King's John Lee said "They were a truly outstanding group. The way they went about all the planning and organising of their various activities was an example to everyone, and the award could hardly have gone to five more deserving young people."