A FORMER Queen’s School pupil has received a top award from Prince Philip.

Sophie Donald, of Christleton, was presented with her Duke of Edinburgh gold award at St James’s Palace in London.

Sophie spent two years working through the five sections of the DofE programme to achieve her gold award.

Activities included being an active member of the Combined Cadet Force (RAF), ballroom dancing, playing in a saxophone quartet, living with a rural family in Costa Rica while undertaking a community project, and completing a five day trek through a rainforest in challenging weather and terrain. Throughout her DofE, Sophie was able to prove herself to be both a team player and a team leader, persevering through tough challenges to complete the award.

She said: “The DofE has been a very rewarding experience. I learnt new skills, gained new experiences, and enjoyed helping and teaching others. The trek pushed me far beyond my limits, but motivation and perseverance as part of the team helped us all get through, even with waist-high river crossings and putting wet boots on every morning!

“The more effort you put into things, and the more things you try, the more rewarding the outcome is. I can’t wait to go on an expedition again.”

Sophie is now reading geography in her first year at the University of Cambridge.