by Alan Quick

SAVANNAH Clawson, from Crediton, who completed her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in this the 60th anniversary year of the D of E Award scheme, was one of the young award recipients who attended a D of E Diamond Celebration service held at Westminster Abbey on November 24.

Savannah completed her award with Queen Elizabeth’s School in Crediton.

She said that the thanksgiving celebration was about giving thanks to the people that make D of E possible: Prince Phillip who set up the award in 1956, all of the volunteers and leaders, the young people that get involved, the donors who support the charity, etc.

Savannah said: "After we were all seated, the service began by the Dean and Chapter of Westminster welcoming the Deputy Mayor of London, Joanne McCartney, The Earl and Countess of Wessex and finally, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, to the Abbey.

"We heard some testimonies from people who had overcome many difficulties in order to complete their D of E and they spoke about the opportunities that D of E had presented to them.

"Hannah Cockroft MBE spoke of how she overcame her disability in order to complete her D of E award and how it allowed her to feel just like everyone else in her capabilities. She is now a Paralympic gold medallist.

"Thomas Wainwright spoke of how focusing on completing his D of E bronze award whilst in prison helped him get through a five-year sentence. It was the first time that he had ever won an award and the first time that he felt that people had believed in him. He thanked the prison workers who had given him the opportunity. He now works as an electrician, after volunteering with an electrics company as part of his award.

"Various readings of thanks were said, notably by Jon Culshaw, an impressionist and ambassador for D of E.

"Prayers were read by people from many different backgrounds, including from Phillip Schofield (broadcaster) who completed the D of E Diamond challenge this year

"After the Dean had read the blessing, everyone remained standing to sing the National Anthem before the choir, the clergy and members of the royal family began to leave the service

"Finally, the bells of the Abbey were rung."

The Duke of Edinburgh was inspired to set up the award by his former headmaster, Kurt Hahn, who thought that each of us has more courage, more strength and more compassion than would ever have been believed.

The Army Cadet Force, the Scouts and the Boy’s Brigade offered to run a trial for D of E when it first began in 1956 but the trial was so successful that it is still going today and the award has grown to unprecedented sizes, with record numbers of young people completing their awards in 2016.

A girls’ award began in 1970.

Last year for the first time, more than 250,000 young people started their D of E in the UK and more than 11,000 people achieved their Gold award.