Warwickshire’s first Gold D of E achiever retires
A Warwickshire youth worker spending almost half a century guiding young people through the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has hung his walking boots up for the final time, and retired from his role.
Northern Area Liaison Officer Keith Asbury first became involved in the scheme, now managed by Warwickshire County Council’s Youth and Community Service (Outdoor Education), when he became the first person in the county to achieve the Gold level back in 1959.
Since then, he has devoted 46 years of service to helping 14 to 25 year-olds in Warwickshire do the same. In 1960, Keith decided to promote the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme in his own Scout unit in Nuneaton.
Four years later, Keith was asked to establish the programme throughout the borough, marking the beginnings of the countywide programme as it is known today.
It was during that decade that Keith met and married Rachel, who have worked together on the Award programme since. Rachel played a very active part in the courses, training and assessments.
They’ve helped organise a range of activities including Pony trekking, sailing, canoeing, Parascending, Parachute jumping, basic and advanced Mountain as well as Alpine Walking.
Their daughter Michelle joined the team some years later after gaining her Gold and has worked with her parents, and the rest of the Northern Area team, in what Keith describes as a real family atmosphere.
He said: “It has been wonderful having them along. After a while you all begin to think alike and it was a comforting feeling knowing that the team were there attending to all the support tasks that need doing, as well as ensuring that the young people came firs with their usual care and concern.
“All of these qualities helped create a wonderful family atmosphere which was picked up by the young people and which would be hard to replicate. No wonder the courses were always full with parents and young people desperately wanting to be part of the action and the success story.”
One of the most memorable experiences for Keith was securing the Earl of Wessex’s visit to the Duke of Edinburgh scheme in North Warwickshire in 2006.
Keith added: “Until I undertook this exercise I had no idea of the work involved liaising with the various levels of Police units, security and the Warwickshire Lieutenancy’s Office who co-ordinate all such visits.”
Another highlight was when he was awarded an MBE for Services to Young People in the Queen’s New Year Honours list in 2007. Although Keith quickly pointed out that if such awards were presented to teams, there would be none more deserving than his.
For more information about Warwickshire County Council’s Youth and Community Service or for further details about the Duke of Edinburgh Award, visit http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/youthandcommunity.