Cadet Flight Sergeant Chanel Ogden, an Air Cadet with 1220 (March) Squadron Air Training Corps was recently presented with her Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award certificate. The presentation was made in a special ceremony at St James’s Palace.
To earn the award Chanel completed five sections. These included volunteering in the community, improving her physical fitness by playing cricket, with March Town women’s team, and learning a new skill.
Chanel also had to complete a Residential section for which he spent a week away from home, this was completed at Stanta in Suffolk, with the Bedfordshire & Cambridgeshire wing Easter camp. The final section was a 4 day expedition coping with some extremely warm weather in the Lake District.
Before the presentation of certificates HRH the Duke of Edinburgh took time to chat with the award recipients and their guests. Chanel was presenter with her certificate by explorer, Levison Wood, and her mother, Mrs Angela Ogden, attended as Chanel’s guest.
Ex-Cadet Sergeant Joe Williams was also in attendance on the day to receive his award, after he completed his Gold award prior to “ageing out” from the Air Cadet organisation when he turned 18 years old last year.
On receiving the award Chanel commented that “The final parts of the Gold Expedition were very hard, however, to receive my award at St James’s Palace has definitely made it all worthwhile. I would definitely recommend to anyone who has the opportunity to do a Duke of Edinburgh to make the most of it and do it!”
A further 9 cadets are currently completing their Gold Duke of Edinburgh award in 2015, a record breaking number in one year. The cadets hope to have their awards completed by early 2016.