THE highest level of Duke of Edinburgh’s Award - the Gold Award - has been completed by 34 young people in Pembrokeshire this year, among them Gareth Jones from Crymych OAC and Archie Hollyfield from Ysgol y Preseli & Crymych OAU.

Gaining the Gold Award is a huge achievement, says Dave Sommerville, DofE coordinator for Pembrokeshire County Council.

“It’s the most prestigious of the three awards, and not many people get it because the commitment is enormous,” he said.

“They have to work for a minimum of four years, because they will have gone through the Bronze and Silver levels first, and they also have to complete it during sixth form, when they are also doing A-levels, AS-levels and the Welsh Bac. It speaks volumes for them if they manage it.”

To mark their outstanding achievements, all students who complete the gold level are invited to St James Palace in London to be presented with their award. This year, some students will also be presented with their award at Buckingham Palace.

Dave added: “It’s only really at that point that they realise the scale of what they have achieved – that they have done something that not many other people do.”

The prestigious Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been completed by 83 young people in Pembrokeshire, including the following students from Ysgol y Preseli & Crymych OAU: Adam Forster, Megan Lewis, Annie Williams, Lily Tiger Tonkin Wells, Nerys Palmer, Jacob Martin, Matthew Richards, Iwan Thomas Cole, Tomos Edmonds, Megan Noakes, Megan Elen Morris, Eva Jenkins, Martha Baum, Lili Ellen Mather, Carys Thomas, Lowri James, Megan Elizabeth Billing, Lowri Jones, Alanna Jones, Beth Davies.

A total of 253 young people across Pembrokeshire achieved the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, including these pupils from Ysgol y Preseli & Crymych OAU: Erin Byrne, Maisie Wolstenholme, Grace Stangroomem, Ellie Palfrey, Georgia Jervis, Ceirios Eluned Thomas, Ceirios Thomas,Tomos Morgans, Eliza Martin, Rhydian Dafydd Howells, Callum Forster, Talfan Jenkins, Ffion Jenkins, Grug Harries, Jade Caitlyn Thorpe Phillips, Cerys Evans, Megan Greenhalgh, Alaw John, Jessica Balfour, Emily Matthews, Mari Jones, Joseph Likeman, Sofia Jones, Ffion Lewis, Matilda White, Efa Bowen, Hedd John, Lewys Tee, Joseph Mathias, Joseph Hughes, Kieran James, Caleb Nicholas, Hedd Nicholas, Steffan John Davies, Elen Megan Hawkins, Isaac Hughes, Bruce Phillips, Cai Phillips, Callum Harding, Tomos Davies, Josh Bridge, Sam Ryan Edge, Oran Fudge, Rhiannon Morgan, Indi Young, Eve Thomson, Rhys Davies, Elen Grace John.