Horsham and Steyning teenagers receive gold awards at Buckingham Palace

By The Newsroom
Published 20th May 2016, 14:48 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:35 BST
Laura and Stuart McLaughlin outside Buckingham PalaceLaura and Stuart McLaughlin outside Buckingham Palace
Laura and Stuart McLaughlin outside Buckingham Palace

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Teenagers from Horsham Open Centre and Steyning Grammar School were among a small group of lucky West Sussex students who were presented with gold awards at a prestigious Buckingham Palace event this week.

The group were given the once-in-a-lifetime experience in honour of The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award’s Diamond Anniversary and were chosen to receive their DofE Gold Award at Buckingham Palace on Monday (May 16).

Laura McLaughlin, from Horsham Open Centre, and Jennifer Mason, from Steyning Grammar School, received their awards and a certificate from comedian Alistair McGowan.

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There were also four people from Christ’s Hospital School, Lancing College and Worth School, in Turners Hill.

The special celebration was the first one in ten years as around 1,000 gold award recipients gathered on the lawns for a garden party in the presence of the Duke of Edinburgh, the Earl of Wessex and the Countess of Wessex.

Laura, 18, from Horsham, said: “I was excited to be selected to have this experience! I’d recommend DofE as it builds skills like team work and setting targets for yourself.

“Now I volunteer at Horsham Open Centre as I enjoy giving back to the peop