Futtocks Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 Obviously inspired by recent news, but I was never offered the opportunity and probably wouldn't have done it anyway. It all sounded a bit too healthy-outdoorsy for my tastes. But I know people who did go for it and their very positive opinions on what the scheme gave to them. So have any TRLers done a DoE? I'd love to hear some anecdotes. Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted. Ralph Waldo Emerson Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedford Roughyed Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 24 minutes ago, Futtocks said: Obviously inspired by recent news, but I was never offered the opportunity and probably wouldn't have done it anyway. It all sounded a bit too healthy-outdoorsy for my tastes. But I know people who did go for it and their very positive opinions on what the scheme gave to them. So have any TRLers done a DoE? I'd love to hear some anecdotes. Did the Bonze award with Air cadets a few (25+) years ago. Was fun, and fitted in with things we did anyway. Wasn't offered at our school back then. I believe schools are much more involved now. Lots of blisters and far far too heavy packs. With the best, thats a good bit of PR, though I would say the Bedford team, theres, like, you know, 13 blokes who can get together at the weekend to have a game together, which doesnt point to expansion of the game. Point, yeah go on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bearman Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 I was involved as an adult. I trained air cadets and kids with many either social or learning difficulties disadvantages. I ended up as a Gold Assessor for candidates. It gave me some great experiences. As quoted elsewhere I had 3 meetings with Prince Phillip and one with Prince Edward Name a hospital near a national park and I have been there! The scheme has been brilliant and has been copied by countries around the world as a " Presidents Award" or similar. Ron Banks Midlands Hurricanes and Barrow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northern Eel Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 I did bronze, silver and gold through school. Never actually went to collect my award (which was posted). Best part of it were the expeditions. 3 nights, lugging 1/3rd of your body weight over Inglebrough, Pen-y-ghent and Malham Tarn. Character building stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bedford Roughyed Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 42 minutes ago, Northern Eel said: lugging 1/3rd of your body weight We always thought that was a target to achieve rather than a maximum.... With the best, thats a good bit of PR, though I would say the Bedford team, theres, like, you know, 13 blokes who can get together at the weekend to have a game together, which doesnt point to expansion of the game. Point, yeah go on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sheddingswasus Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 Did mine nearly 50 years ago. Passed silver. The gold one had an expedition 50 miles in rough terrain over 3 days. The weather was atrocious, and in this modern age he "hike" would have been cancelled. As the mist on the moors closed in we got a touch lost and finished up getting to the meet point around three hours late. Sadly we failed, and I never got the chance to re-do it. Thinking back some of the activities were really dangerous, such as pot holing and the like. Glad I did it all though! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clogiron Posted April 10, 2021 Share Posted April 10, 2021 Will the award's increase in value after his death like celebs autographs do? Just saying like Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Evans Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 Aye.... in the air cadets many many years ago. It was fantastic. I had acquired my republican outlook at that time. Way too busy having fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metallithrax Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 Bronze and Silver in the Air Cadets like others. Good fun doing the hikes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Evans Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 1 hour ago, metallithrax said: Bronze and Silver in the Air Cadets like others. Good fun doing the hikes. I got the pizz taken out of me when I joined the cadets. But it was brilliant. I shot for the wing. Played rugby for the region. Did my D of E. Got my gliding wings. Did acrobatics in the chipmunk... which says how old I am. Went on marine craft from holyhead. Went to camps all over the place. These were experiences I still talk about. Planning the d of e gold hike in the lakes was fun.... it proper knackered me but the craic and team bonding remains. 148 squadron. Barnsley. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metallithrax Posted April 11, 2021 Share Posted April 11, 2021 127 Wakefield. Loved flying in the Chipmunk, did aerobatics as well. Went gliding (never did my wings). Loved going to Finningley for flying and shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin Evans Posted April 13, 2021 Share Posted April 13, 2021 On 11/04/2021 at 22:03, metallithrax said: 127 Wakefield. Loved flying in the Chipmunk, did aerobatics as well. Went gliding (never did my wings). Loved going to Finningley for flying and shooting. I did my gliding at RAF Newton. I was taught by F/L Johnson.... the same bloke who taught Prince Andrew. I suspect his in-flight dialogue with Prince Andrew was significantly better than it was with me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Honor James Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 If what we see and hear on the TV, radio etc., I think the late Duke of Edinburgh would have enjoyed your last remark. “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.” Eleanor Roosevelt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckn Posted April 14, 2021 Share Posted April 14, 2021 I only heard about this when I got into the army. Absolutely no knowledge of it at school and I even asked those I was at school with and most hadn't. Really annoyed me as it was something I'd have loved as a kid. "When in deadly danger, when beset by doubt; run in little circles, wave your arms and shout" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonM Posted April 15, 2021 Share Posted April 15, 2021 I'd didn't hear about it until I was an adult either. When I lived on Dartmoor, we always knew when it was D of E weekend Don't know anyone over the age of forty or so who has done it. In recent years, we've had a constant stream of pleasant, polite, helpful teenage volunteers at cubs (and parkrun) doing their D of E volunteering stint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnM Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 Eldest granddaughter should have been doing it last summer but her expedition was suspended. She's keen to get going on it ASAP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neanderthal Posted April 16, 2021 Share Posted April 16, 2021 Signed up to do the bronze in the early eighties (yes, I'm well over 40!), but the teachers strike scuppered the whole thing. 'Extra curricular activities' were dropped and that was that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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