29 young people had the opportunity to speak to the Earl of Wessex on Friday afternoon at the Villa Marina during his visit to the Commonwealth Youth Games. The young people were split into groups to talk about activities they had completed as part of a section of their Award. They were: Volunteering Sarah Mercer & Imogen Wild – Marine Conservation Emma Kennaugh – fundraising events for Wateraid Rosie Walker, Hannah Williams & Breeshey Cowin – Girlguiding Physical Josh Rowlands & David Watt – kayaking Ceara Crowe, Elly Cain & Honor Jude – Dance Skill Alfie Leach, Joseph Callister & Charlie Henthorn – Marksmanship Ellen Quane, Conor Crowe & Abigail Verschueren – Music Expedition Loni Oldam, Alice Callister, Kim McKay & Kirree Quayle – Bronze Kirree Swift, Louise Coase, Harry Goodwin & Jake Hewins – Silver Tom Bott, Charlotte Howarth, Rebecca Sayle & Sarah Teare – Gold The Earl made his way around each group, accompanied by Alison Gawne, Awards’ Co-ordinator, asking the young people about their activities and listening to stories of the challenges they had encountered. Also in attendance were His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor and his wife. Alison said: ‘The young people were from a variety of Award Groups based on the Island and all had an opportunity to speak to his Highness. I was very proud to see how well each of them spoke to him, explaining the activity they had taken part in and answering all of the Earl’s questions. He took a genuine interest in them all and referred to his own experiences of taking part in the Award whilst discussing their experiences.’ The Earl of Wessex achieved his Gold Award in 1986. His duties with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award are as a United Kingdom and International Trustee, which means that he travels widely in Britain and overseas on behalf of the Award. To find out more about the Award visit http://www.gov.im/education/info/doea.xml Ends