HOOK Open Duke of Edinburgh Award Centre celebrated the end of 2016 by holding its inaugural Bronze Award presentation evening.

The presentation evening at Hook Community Centre was held towards the end of December to mark a superb 18 months for the Hook D of E centre.

Twenty two young people received their Bronze Award certificates and badges after months of hard work and dedication which included 28 intrepid teenagers walking 25 km over two days with just the bare essentials in their backpacks, while the youngsters also undertook voluntary work, participated in a physical activity and practised a skill for at least three months.

The evening started off with a speech and greetings from Lindsay Graham, the centre co-ordinator and one of its leaders, who provided information about how the centre is run and funded. Thanks were also given to those organisations that had supported the centre in its first 18 months of existence, as well as the participants and their parents.

The awards were then presented to the participants by Isaac Walker, Hampshire County Council Duke of Edinburgh advisor for Hart and Rushmoor, and Debra Davies, vice-chairman of Hook Parish Council, to rapturous applause.

Among those receiving an award was Sophie Graham, 15, who said: “The award definitely helped me learn more about teamwork and how to support each other through all the tasks we had to do.

“I even learnt new skills, like how to put a tent up and how to read a map. It was a really good experience – hard work, but fun at the same time.”

Following the presentations, centre co-ordinator Lindsay was delighted to accept a cheque on behalf of the Hook Open Centre for £500 from the Tom Langton Fund to help towards the costs of expedition equipment.

Praise was given to Peter Busby, Tim Silver and Chris Pullen from Basing Lodge of Freemasons for attending the evening and presenting the cheque and to the fund for its generosity.

Lindsay Graham added: “Overall, the evening proved to be very successful and a fitting way to mark the achievement of the centre’s 2015/16 Bronze participants.”

For more information about Hook Open Duke of Edinburgh Centre email [email protected] or alternatively contact them via Facebook at www.face

book.com/HookDofE.