Photos: Prince Edward Presents Gold Awards
[Updated with video] The Earl of Wessex and The Countess of Wessex started off their whirlwind tour of Bermuda by visiting The Centre on Angle Street this morning [Mar.17] and presenting Gold Awards and meeting current and past officials of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards in Bermuda.
Those earning the Gold Award were Rachael Antonition, Arthur Begeman, Nicole Botelho, Tyaneil Darrell, Aysha DeSilva, Kristen Greene, Chimoa Nwasike, Ché-Quan Richardson, Trae Trott and Jahkari Woods. In addition, some of the Gold Awardees also received their Silver Awards including Rachael Antonition, Kristen Greene, Chimoa Nwasike, Trae Trott and Ché-Quan Richardson.
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In addition to the Royal Couple, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award chairman Kenneth Bartram, and Minister of Youth, Families, Sports and Community Development Glenn Blakeney were in attendance.
The main purpose of their visit is to celebrate The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Bermuda. The Earl of Wessex is a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Foundation and Chairman of the International Council. The Award Programme, which operates in 132 countries, was set up by his father, The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in 1956.
The video below shows their arrival at The Center, as well as some brief words from bystanders who came out to see the Royal Couple:
The Royal Highnesses then traveled to Ferry Reach for a tour of the Co-Educational Facility – an approved Duke of Edinburgh Award centre – where he met young male offenders who are participating in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme.
Afterwards, Prince Edward will visit Somersfield Academy where he will meet the Bermuda Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Council and Award programme participants. Simultaneously, Her Royal Highness will tour Dame Marjorie Bean Hope Academy where she will meet students and faculty.
The Royal Highnesses will then travel to the Royal Bermuda Yacht Club in Hamilton where they will watch a demonstration of Optimist & 420 sailing and meet Club officials and young sailors, before visiting the Berkeley Institute this afternoon. In the evening, the Royal couple will join Premier Paula Cox at a reception at Camden in Paget.
This is the third visit to Bermuda for The Earl of Wessex. He previously visited Bermuda in 1992 and 2003, immediately after Hurricane Fabian. This will be the first visit to Bermuda of The Countess of Wessex. They are staying at Government House, and depart Bermuda early tomorrow, and will head to the Caribbean.
Photos by Only the Best, click to enlarge:
Minister Blakeney’s full remarks follow below:
Good Morning
Your Royal Highnesses, The Earl and Countess of Wessex,
Your Excellency The Governor,
Duke of Edinburgh Awardees
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen
The Government and the people of Bermuda are indeed most honoured that you have graced us with your presence at this momentous occasion!
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Bermuda, internationally known as The International Award for Young People, is an exciting self-development programme for all young people. It equips them with life skills, builds their confidence and engages them with their communities. To date thousands of Bermuda’s young people have undertaken a variety of voluntary and challenging activities through the Award.
The Community Centre ‘De Navigators’ Award Group at this Centre, has been used as an Open Award Centre since 1989 when Lawrence Trimingham (Alumni) wanted to give back to his community by helping others to achieve their Award.
The Centre continues to serve our Community well – having produced the Award’s first National Director – Mr. Donté Hunt, M.P. and current serving Award Chair, Mr. Kenneth Bartram, both Gold Award holders. In 1993 Kenneth Bartram took over as Award Leader of the Centre and he continued to develop the Programme by renaming the Award Centre to ‘De Navigators’ which appropriately means “one who explores, one who directs their course or takes control.”
We are very proud to see that currently, the ‘De Navigators’ Award group has 18 Bronze, 3 Silver and close to 35 Gold active participants in the Award Programme.
The Award programme continues to contribute to the holistic development of Bermuda’s young people by giving them the opportunity to engage in community service, physical recreation, personal skill development and the team building journey of an expedition or adventure. The Programme also helps to build the character, minds and bodies of Bermuda’s young people by focusing on activities that will build leadership skills and an appreciation for volunteerism.
I am proud to say that the young people who are receiving awards today embody the spirit of the Awards as they were conceived in 1967 and I wish to congratulate them and wish them all the best as they embark on their future endeavours.
Thank you.
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Many congrats to the Gold award receipients! You have done your family, island and yourselves proud.
I second that. This diverse group of young people have done their families proud. As for themselves, future assests of Bermuda. Well Done.