Ron Jones

BRAMCADE (BRAMcote Hills Community Association Duke of Edinburgh's Group) enrolled its first five candidates in 1978. The Association had had a successful D of E Section in the early 1970s but this had lapsed. Pressure ITom a daughter and her fuends, together with the lack of a suitable alternative (neither the School nor the Youth Club would get involved), caused the writer to suggest that the Community Association should reactivate its interest. They thought this was a wonderful idea especially since, if all else failed, I would head the section. Margaret, my wife, was soon helping and after a few years adopted a pivotal role. Teresa Wilkinson, a gold award holder, who had recently moved onto Bramcote Moor was another ofthe early helpers.

The first five candidates all achieved the Bronze Standard in 1979. Our first 'Golds', Nicola Hawkins and Nicki Jones, were awarded in 1981. The presentation by the Duke in the Music Room of Buckingham Palace was made in the following summer.

1981 was the Silver Jubilee of the scheme. BRAMCADE built a float depicting the various activities of the A ward. This was displayed at the celebrations in Nottingham's Market Square and later on the Embankment where our girls distinguished themselves by winning the tug-of-war. We still have the trophy.

Enrolled numbers increased rapidly, and in 1983 ten of our candidates achieved Gold A wards. They celebrated at the local award ceremony by singing 'Ten Golden Candidates', a parody of the tribulations and joys of participating in the scheme. For the London presentation, at St James' Palace, the party of candidates and parents (mainly mums) caused quite a stir on Nottingham Midland Station. The porters had never seen such a collection of new hats! Another highlight for that group was an invitation to the Mayor's 'At Home' at Beeston Town Hall.

These candidates had successfully completed the three levels of the Award (Bronze, Silver and Gold). All levels have sections for Service, Expedition, Skills and Physical Recreation with an additional requirement of Residential Project at Gold. Choices of Service included helping in uniformed organisations, visiting elderly people or, for the Gold candidates, helping to organise a Bronze Group. Driving became a popular option as a skill and a wide range of sports has been selected for Physical Recreation.

The residential courses included PHAB (Physically Handicapped! Able Bodied) holidays abroad and various work camps for cathedrals, the National Trust, etc. Some of the accommodation for the working parties was rudimentary and the sight of it was sufficient to move one party of 17 -year old girls to tears. When they were picked up a week later, they were again near to tears, this time because they didn't want to go home!

The expeditions were undoubtedly the most memorable part of the Award for many candidates. When we started, it was permissible for young women to stay in Youth Hostels and to do a lesser mileage than young men. However when equality struck, the mileage requirements became the same and overnight camping became obligatory. This posed problems for Margaret and me, as we were hostellers, not campers. Fortunately, David Whelpton came along and took over the expedition training, a task he continued until some four years ago. Meanwhile, he also became a County Assessor in 1985 and is now Honorary County Advisor. David Swetnam, who, with his wife Enid, joined us in 1994, has also become a County Assessor and has taken over our expeditions. David Sibson also assists in the expeditions. These have mainly been on foot in the Peak District, but there is a proposal for a group to go to Malawi in 2000.

At the Ruby celebrations in 1996, David Whelpton, Margaret and I received long service awards.

To date we have had about 250 candidates through the scheme, 77 have achieved Gold, 44 Silver and 67 Bronze (these Silver and Bronze figures do not include those who have gone on to achieve a higher award). Currently there are 38 candidates on the books. The increasing demands of GCSEs have reduced the number of Golds
per annum and increased the time taken to achieve this standard compared to the early years. Nevertheless, BRAMCADE continues to thrive.

The Award Scheme has always had good safety standards. However, over the years, following several tragedies involving outdoor pursuits by school parties, safety has assumed ever greater emphasis; expedition supervisors are now required to have formal qualifications.

When the group started, all the parents took turns at chauffeuring, safety officering, phone watch etc. Everybody did their share and no money changed hands. As the group grew, this became impractical and today a fixed charge is made for expeditions to pay for petrol, equipment, etc. Nevertheless, funds are always fairly tight, and BRAMCADE is grateful to the Association for donations. These have funded training, insurance and equipment purchases at various times.

Since 1983, BRAMCADE has had a formal committee. Margaret and I have been Secretary and Chairman since its inception. Carol Phillips has been a member since 1989 and Arthur England has been Treasurer since 1991. All the current leaders and helpers, many of whom have been mentioned above, are members of the Committee. From time to time several of our Gold Award Holders have become helpers. Matt Cox is currently helping while previously Jan Whelpton served for a number of years until she joined the majority and left the district. The younger end is represented when there are Gold candidates undertaking Award Leadership for their Service. The other group of stalwarts are parents, who have made a most valuable contribution, each for several years, whilst their offspring were candidates. June Offiler is the current representative of this group.

As a D of E Group, BRAMCADE operates under the aegis of the County Council, which services the Award through its Area Youth and Community Officers and part -time Area Organisers. Attachment to such an Operating Authority is obligatory. However, the Areas and the personnel change with bewildering frequency. Being active in the local Award Committee (Carol is Vice-Chairman, Margaret is Secretary), having David on the Assessment Panel and our own network of contacts enables us to cope with such changes.

Some of our Gold A ward Holders has been inspired to continue undertaking adventurous projects notably Chris Newsome, Emma Pollard and Simon Grayling (Operation Raleigh) and Jan Whelpton (Midlands representative on an international Post-Gold expedition to Java).

To quote HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, 'The philosophy of the Scheme is neither very profound nor very complicated. It is simply this: a civilised society depends upon freedom, responsibility, intelligence and standard of behaviour of its individual members, and if a society is to continue to be civilised, each succeeding generation must learn these qualities ... [which) are all rather abstract concepts. The Scheme has attempted to bring them down to earth: to give individual young people the opportunity to discover these ideas for themselves through a graduated programme of experience. '

There have been many high moments, the successful end to expeditions, especially the first Gold, which established the credentials not only of the candidates but also of BRAMCADE, or the Palace presentations. It continues to be a privilege to be part of the individual voyages of discovery and to witness the enduring friendships which are formed, but the greatest rewards have undoubtedly been the achievements of candidates who were disadvantaged or who had had a real struggle.