TWO Explorer Scouts from Haslemere District were honoured to be invited to St James’ Palace to receive their Gold Duke of Edinburgh Awards.

Jonathan Russell and Emily Collins-Wingate were among about 300 young people, around 60 of those representing Scouting.

District spokesman John Stone said: “This award is not for the faint hearted, for it started with their expedition over four days and three nights, walking with all their kit on the western side of the Lake District in August 2014.

There were two teams and the assessor remarked that they were the best he had come across.”

Jonathan volunteered with Camelsdale Cub Pack for 18 months and joined their summer camp at Blacklands Farm.

For the physical section he built up his swimming skills, apsed since junior school age, assessed by a trainer from Godalming.

His skills section involved learning about conservation, working with the Lynchmere Society to learn about the use of tools, biodiversity and how to return land to heathland.

Finally, for the residential section, he joined a tall ships venture, and sailed over five days from Ipswich to Bruges, Belgium on a tall ship named the Stavros S Niarchos.

Emily learned to tap dance at Stage One Youth Theatre for a production of Anything Goes at Fareham’s Ferneham Hall. She also performed as Miss Lynch in a production of Grease at Ferneham Hall.

For the volunteering section she assisted at 1st Harting Cub Pack, and for the residential section she spent a week at Nottingham University for a week of lectures as a vet student.

Jonathan is now at Alton College studying for A-levels, and Emily is in her first year at Surrey University studying veterinary medicine.

The group were presented with their awards in the Entree Room, the room where Prince William and Princess Kate announced their engagement. Afterwards Prince Phillip walked through and chatted to the participants, and Kate Humble the TV presenter chatted to them, describing some significant events in her life.