Hundreds of Pembrokeshire young people have achieved Duke of Edinburgh awards in the last year.

The highest level of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - the Gold Award - has been completed by 34 young people.

Gaining the Gold Award is a huge achievement, says Dave Sommerville, DofE Coordinator for Pembrokeshire County Council.

“It’s the most prestigious of the three awards, and not many people get it because the commitment is enormous,” he said.

“They have to work for a minimum of four years, because they will have gone through the Bronze and Silver levels first, and they also have to complete it during sixth form, when they are also doing A-levels, AS-levels and the Welsh Bac. It speaks volumes for them if they manage it.”

The Gold level requires participants to work hard on volunteering, skills and physical activities, as well as undertaking a challenging expedition - a four-day hike through the Scottish Highlands, preceded by a four-day practice walk all the way across Wales. It is also the only level where participants must complete a five day volunteering-based residential course - either in the UK or abroad.

To mark their outstanding achievements, all students who complete the Gold level are invited to St James Palace in London to be presented with their award. This year, some students will also be presented with their award at Buckingham Palace.

Dave added: “It’s only really at that point that they realise the scale of what they have achieved – that they have done something that not many other people do.”

Stephanie Price, Director of the DofE in Wales, said: “Pembrokeshire has a long tradition of investing in young people to help them achieve at all levels of the Award and it’s fantastic to see so many completing their Gold.

“The award demands commitment but it is also hugely rewarding, supporting young people to develop personally and socially in ways which aren’t always possible through school activities.

“I am looking forward to welcoming several of this year’s achievers to Buckingham Palace on the 24th of May – a fantastic way to celebrate such dedication.”

The following young people have all achieved a Gold Award.

Castle School

Zara Bakewell

Crymych OAC

Gareth Jones

Fishguard Open Award Centre

Isabelle Morgan Davies

Greenhill School

Anna Garvey, Holly Humphries, Oliver Crawford, Rob McKinley

Milford Haven School

Alex Sainter, Danielle Corney, Louise Richards

Pembroke Dock Young Fire Fighters

Ella Culyer

Pembroke School

Holly Murray, Lewis Murray

Pembrokeshire College

Ben Pepper

Sir Thomas Picton School

Adele Bevan, Jess Layton, Kemsley Mathias, Sian Katherine Davies

Tasker Milward School

Abi Price, Bram Bruins, Fraser James, Lauren Price, Owen Mountstevens

Ysgol Dewi Sant

Angharad Price, Ashley Beynon, Calum Walton, Ellen Raymond, Gwyndaf Rees, Huw Wilson, Josh Wellan, Lauren Clancy, Morgan Weale, Sam Bramley

Ysgol y Preseli & Crymych OAU

Archie Hollyfield

Silver

The Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) has been completed by 83 young people in Pembrokeshire over the past year.

Students worked hard on the four different elements of the award – volunteering, physical, skills and expedition.

The expedition element of the Silver award includes two practice three-day expeditions in North Pembrokeshire and a further three-day qualifier expedition in more difficult terrain – for example, the Black Mountains.

Dave Sommerville, congratulated all the students on completing the award, which he said was particularly challenging physically. “We are extremely proud of their dedication and their achievements,” he said.

The following students have all achieved the Silver Award: Castle School Catherine Lovegrove.

Greenhill School

Callum McLean, Zac Henry, Ben Holmes, Finley Birt, Thomas William Emanuel, Thomas Griffiths, Jack Mills, Layla Slack, Dominic Belli, Carys Ann Judith Ratcliffe, Megan Sturdy, Nicole Bridle, Jemma Hurds, Carys Davies, Albany Milton.

Milford Haven School

Caitlin Amy Parr, Lewis Murray, Holly Murray, Adam Rowe, Joseph Bryant, Adam Jones, Samuel Cox.

Pembrokeshire College

Alfie Wheeler, Sion Lewis, Amber Baker, Max Richards, Faye Goffin.

Portfield School

Matthew Griffiths, Cameron Kilpatrick.

Sir Thomas Picton School

Connor McGarvie, Mark Weston-Arnold, Hannah Griffiths, Katelyn Gale, Olivia Abadioru, Hannah Wood, James Horsley, Jasmin Frank, Rhys Howells, Lucie Abadioru, Milly Tudor, David Evans.

Tasker Milward School

Abigail Williams, Amelia Davies, Amy Newman, Victoria Hodgson, Megan Manning, Catherine Hodgson, Tobias Michael Belli, Ellen Smith, Toby Asson, Beth Meopham, Baris Akay.

Ysgol Bro Gwaun & Fishguard Open Award Centre

Ryan Foot, Dafydd Emlyn Ridgway.

Ysgol Dewi Sant

Robyn Martin-Smith, Oliver Jones, Bethan Pryke, Paddy Gallagher, William Brooks, Aled Rowlands, Lauren El Attar, Jack McMullan.

Ysgol y Preseli & Crymych OAU

Adam Forster, Megan Lewis, Annie Williams, Lily Tiger Tonkin Wells, Nerys Palmer, Jacob Martin, Matthew Richards, Iwan Thomas Cole, Tomos Edmonds, Megan Noakes, Megan Elen Morris, Eva Jenkins, Martha Baum, Lili Ellen Mather, Carys Thomas, Lowri James, Megan Elizabeth Billing, Lowri Jones, Alanna Jones, Beth Davies.

Bronze

Some 235 young people across Pembrokeshire achieved the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) in Pembrokeshire last year.

The award gives 14-24 year olds the opportunity to choose from a range of volunteering, physical, skills and expedition activities. The Bronze level takes several months to complete.

The students have been praised for their commitment by Dave Sommerville, DofE Coordinator for Pembrokeshire County Council. “We’re very proud of them,” said Dave. “Each and every one of them has worked very hard.”

The following students have all achieved the Bronze Award:

Castle School

Maya Harris, Callum John, James Allen, Lewis Waters, Rhys Morgan Jones, Lewys Greenwood, Olivia Tomp, Luke Mansfield, Stan Harrison, Hannah Winterton, Joshua Hosker, Ben Whitelaw, Robyn Thomas, Anna Roach, Caitlin Sparey, Luke Fearne, Isabella Holliday.

Greenhill School

Harry Batty, Josh Church, Scott Dowler, Christopher Moir-Coe, Alex Orchard, Harrison Richards, Rosie Peake, Bethany Gove, Emily McIlwee, Jasica Shibu, Holly Bartlett, Victoria Rebecca, Alice Charnock Crawford, Tia Brace, Morgan Davies, Tanisha Cadwallader, Ollie Gamble, Issy Williams, Bethan Davies, Owen Evans, Maeci Davies, Molly Ashton, Sam Swannell, Caitlin Edwards, Jay Brace, Zac Rowell, Ben Harris, Alexander James Fleming, Georgia Rose Allen.

Milford Haven School

William Anderson, Ieuan Dunn, Stefan Frost, Byron Grey, Ben Mathias, Kate Barnard, Jake Houston, Harry Cecil, Chloe Edmonds, Georgia Adams, Finlay Coombe, Iestyn Howells, Megan Jones, Carla Thompson, Rhys William Jenkins, Sophie Rees, Tommy Othen, Jack Scriven, Megan Gough, Ebony Harries, Jack Ackermann, Harry Nicholas, Sophie Wheeler.

Pembroke School

Colm Tobin, Rowan Kettle, Curtis Palmer, Charlie Marsh, Joseph Watkins, Joseph Wiggins, Caitlin Nutting.

Pembrokeshire Youth Services

Nikki Bates, Callum Wilkinson, Bryonny Smith, Tom Bailey, Michael McDerby, Rhiannon Boswell, Chloe Bevan, Kyle Austin, Jordan Barnett, Bethany Roberts, Jade Roberts, Luke Walters, Blake Wonnacott, Amy Regan, Ashlee Rees.

Portfield School

Troy Bevan, Shannon Donnelly, Calum Whatling, Charlotte Sandford, Kieron Castle, Rhiannon Whitby.

Sir Thomas Picton School

Joe Clark, Ellie Rees, Emozino Umughele, Louisa Ellie Elizabeth Twigg, Leon Wrathall, Adam Foss,Tegwen Farrer, Tanwen James,Tessa Eylers-Stephenson, Callum Laugharne, Millie Tweed, Apryl Lewis-James, Rhys Davies, Zora Husicková, Callum Jones, Nicko Ranario,Thomas Long, Sara Lilley, Dain Kehoe, Leon Whalley, Georgie Blair, Leon Directo, Archie Milne, Sophie Layton, Eve Pritchard, Christopher Pile, Max Harrison, Bethan Louise Hurton, Jack Winston Collier, Jack Roberts, Megan Lilley, Morgan Walters, Adelle Sutherland, Kerenza Willcox, Margot Lawrence, Ellen Ratcliffe, Alisha Stewart, Harry Coombe, Sam Morris, Jordan Folena, Andre Thompson, Lewis Richards, Pierre Lawrence, Seth Morris.

Tasker Milward School

Chloe Jade Edwards, Emily Langford, Elinor Pratt, Anna Ridge,Tess Watson, Carys George,Sian George, Miles Thomas, Nia Simpson, Nicholas Dorkings, Eleanor James, Morgan Elliott Ysgol Bro Gwaun & Fishguard Open Award Centre Celyn Llewellyn, Osian Morgan, Georgia Buckle, Georgia Hawkins, Jerry Owen. 

Ysgol Dewi Sant

Neion Wimperis, Thomas William Clarke, Kyla Owen, Angharad Rowlands,Thomas Marsh,Max Petersen, Bronwen Cotton, Joseph Dorn, Jonathan Wilson, Chloe Jones, Harry Hickman, Ella Evans, Harry Humphreys, Ffion McEvoy, Tam Withey-Giner, Llion Williams,Tom Sibbald, Carys Churchill, Rosie Rees, Raven Alam, Lewis Davies, Rhys Meredith-Barrett, Bethan Larsen, Nia Lewis, Sian Rowlands, Mali Thomas, Isaac Wilson, Abi Voyce, Ella Violet McGarty-Jones, Erin Wilson.

Ysgol y Preseli & Crymych OAU

Erin Byrne, Maisie Wolstenholme, Grace Stangroomem, Ellie Palfrey, Georgia Jervis, Ceirios Eluned Thomas, Ceirios Thomas,Tomos Morgans, Eliza Martin, Rhydian Dafydd Howells, Callum Forster, Talfan Jenkins, Ffion Jenkins, Grug Harries, Jade Caitlyn Thorpe Phillips, Cerys Evans, Megan Greenhalgh, Alaw John, Jessica Balfour, Emily Matthews, Mari Jones, Joseph Likeman, Sofia Jones, Ffion Lewis, Matilda White, Efa Bowen, Hedd John, Lewys Tee, Joseph Mathias, Joseph Hughes, Kieran James, Caleb Nicholas, Hedd Nicholas, Steffan John Davies, Elen Megan Hawkins, Isaac Hughes, Bruce Phillips, Cai Phillips, Callum Harding, Tomos Davies, Josh Bridge, Sam Ryan Edge, Oran Fudge, Rhiannon Morgan, Indi Young, Eve Thomson, Rhys Davies, Elen Grace John.