Gold award proves point

Nov 29 2008 by Andrew Baldwin, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

A DUKE of Edinburgh gold award presentation to student Thomas Farrar was an important event – and not just for him.

The 18-year-old had to complete a series of tough challenges before having the honour of being handed his award by the duke himself.

Thomas is a church bell-ringer, a keen tennis player and is now studying biomedical sciences at university.

Such things are an important confirmation that young people can and should be celebrated by a society which too often is afraid of its own children.

Sure there are bad apples, as with adults, but remembering that under every hoodie does not necessarily lurk a malcontented mind is a valuable lesson.

Young people already know this of course. Thomas was the one picking up a Duke of Edinburgh award, after all.

It’s funny how we forget that once we’re adults, isn’t it?