A RECORD number of students from Stonyhurst College have successfully completed their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Gold level expedition.

Nineteen sixth formers walked 50 miles in Snowdonia over four days and three nights, crossing over the shoulder of Snowdon.

Mrs Jenny Shelley, the college’s Duke of Edinburgh’s Award scheme manager, said: “Their assessors were extremely impressed with their support of each other, and their dogged determination in spite of being soaked to the skin for the best part of three days.”

Thirty other Stonyhurst students were in Snowdonia at the same time, on their Gold practice expedition, and will undertake their qualifying expedition this weekend.

Gold Award Presentations are made each year in London at St James’s Palace or in Edinburgh at Holyrood House, in the presence of The Duke of Edinburgh or The Earl of Wessex.

There was also a surprise award for Mrs Shelley who has been given a special commendation and certificate from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award organisation for ‘exceptional dedication’ to the scheme over the last ten years.

Stonyhurst’s headmaster, Andrew Johnson, said: “Not only are we very proud of our Gold Award students, but we are also delighted that Mrs Shelley has received this much deserved honour, in recognition of her hard work and enthusiasm.”