A CIVIL engineer from Hatherleigh and a Durham University student from Dolton near Winkleigh are two of the latest recipients of prestigious Duke of Edinburgh gold awards.

The award has certainly offered a wide span of experience for civil engineer James Leach, whose parents live in Hatherleigh. James, now age 24, completed the Ten Tors 55-mile challenge on Dartmoor in 2003 with a team from Tiverton High School.

He did his gold practice expedition on Dartmoor and the qualifying venture on the Brecon Beacons in 2004. His experience of the moorland was further enhanced when he was a civil engineering student at the University of Plymouth. As part of the DoE ward he undertook a geological project looking at surface processes such as the weathering of granite on Dartmoor and catalogued his rock collection.

Other activities included mentoring and tutoring students at the Somerset College of Arts and Technology in Taunton and working on the Lord Rolle Canal near Bideford with the Waterways Recovery Group where, with others, he helped restore a canal lock and re-build stone walls.

James now works as a civil engineer. He has spent a year working on the new Terminal Five project at Heathrow Airport, and is currently working as a site engineer on a highways improvement scheme on the M4.

James said: 'The Duke of Edinburgh Award is fantastic scheme, which offers you a great opportunity to 'broaden' yourself, by trying different activities and experiencing new environments — in addition to developing your skills and meeting different people.

'The award requires great individual commitment and enthusiasm as well as an ability to work with a range of different people.

'I have really enjoyed undertaking the scheme and feel proud to have achieved my gold. It has been very beneficial is so many different ways; so I am lucky that my school offered the scheme and I thank my parents, girlfriend and leaders for their encouragement and supported.'

Chasing up the 'legends and ghosts of the Lake District' was quite an experience for another a DofE gold award winner.

Christine Panton from Dolton said: 'Luckily, when it came to ghosts I didn't find any, although we did go to all the places where they were reported to be. I really enjoyed the walk in the Lake District, as it was a difficult challenge which we only managed to overcome by working together as a group.

'It was a real physical test and I was really proud to have completed it!'

Christine, 19, is a former a student of the Maynard School for Girls in Exeter, and is now studying a four year course in mathematics and European Studies at Durham University.

During the DofE scheme she undertook five days of walking on Dartmoor, played at the Devon and Exeter Squash Club and completing a German course in Berlin.

She also gained great satisfaction from a spell of volunteering work at the Brainwave Charity Shop in Moretonhampstead.

Christine told the Times: 'I was looking for a worthy cause to volunteer and when I went in to the Brainwave shop the lady there was very helpful. I learned a lot and during my time was given a lot of responsibility and made a lot of friends. It was also important to me that I gave something back to the community.'

Both James and Christine were among 100 young people from across the county who received their DoE certificates at a special ceremony at County Hall, Exeter, earlier this month. Later this year they hope to receive an invitation to St James' Palace in London, where they hope to meet the Duke of Edinburgh himself.