Horsham’s Laura awarded Gold Duke of Edinburgh prize

Laura, who lives in Horsham, was presented with her certificate in the picture gallery room.

It was presented by the ceremony’s guest speaker, ballerina Darcey Bussell, after the Duke of Edinburgh had also addressed those collecting the prestigious award.

The ceremony took place between 10.30am and 1pm. The different sections to the award are physical, expedition, skill, service and residential.

She completed her bronze and silver Duke of Edinburgh awards while attending Millais school.

She took her A levels at Collyer’s and completed her gold D of E award through the Horsham Open Awards Centre in Roffey, run by Kate Hall.

Laura is currently taking a gap year, and is working for Cancer Research UK.

On Tuesday April 22 she is setting off on ‘The Big Hitch’ to Budapest, Hungary, to raise money for the International Association for Cancer Research.

She has spent most of the gap year working, including a month-long stint on two farms in Norway.

She is set to attend York University later this year, studying music.

Prior to attending university, she is also going to France for ten weeks working in three different locations.

She is also a member of the West Sussex Philharmonic Choir, which she joined when she left Collyer’s.