Former student Emma Hornshaw along with six others completed her Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards during her time at Tadcaster Grammar School. For her Gold Award Emma had to complete the following sections: Volunteering, Physical Activity, Skills, a Residential and an Expedition. For her Volunteering Section Emma volunteered at the Leeds & Wakefield RSCPA centre on a weekly basis caring for rescued animals. She attended a dance school and developed her skills in ballet and tap dancing as well as performing in an annual dance show for her Physical Activity. For the Skills section Emma continued learning to play the keyboard, an activity she started during her Silver Award. Emma chose to attend a Residential on the Isle of Arran with Adventure Expeditions. This involved spending six days living with other participants in a bunkhouse near Brodick. The group spent time engaged in conservation work such as beach cleaning and bracken clearing on the island. The Residential experience also allowed the group to complete their John Muir Discovery Award. Finally Emma completed both her practice and main expeditions with a group of other Tadcaster Grammar students in both the Yorkshire Moors and the Yorkshire Dales. Emma and six other former students from Tadcaster were lucky enough to be invited to a Gold Award Presentation in Buckingham Palace Gardens on 13th May at which HRH The Princess Royal, HRH The Earl of Wessex and HRH Princess Beatrice of York were present. Emma had an opportunity to speak to Princess Anne and also met a number of celebrity presenters who also attended including Chris Tarrant, Jessica Hynes and Richard Madeley. She was particularly excited to meet the “Weasley twins” from the Harry Potter films! Emma is currently in her first year of studying a degree in Veterinary Medicine and Science at the University of Surrey.
By Mrs Hornshaw (Parent)
