ACHIEVING a gold in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme was not just plain sailing for Tom Matthews from Callington.
Tom, who is a keen water enthusiast and a former sailing captain at Kelly College, had to undertake a number of tasks to achieve his gold, including accomplishing a Royal Yachting Association level four grade and competent crew course.
Other tasks included a stamina testing four-day, 45-mile hike across Dartmoor, a study of the military history of the moor, helping the elderly in a Tavistock retirement home and working as a sound and lighting technician for a school theatre production.
Tom, 20, is currently studying politics and international relations at the Royal Holloway College, University of London. He is hoping for a career in broadcast journalism and showed his interest in the media by starting the radio station at Kelly College.
Tom said: 'The great thing about the Duke of Edinburgh award is that it is not just a piece of paper or something to put on your CV. During the training you learn not just about yourself but also about other people.
'When I worked in a retirement home in Tavistock I took away so much from the experience. I always had a respect for the elderly but I gained so much — when I walked in their faces just lit up because they were pleased to see me, it was great.'
He also remembers the trek across Dartmoor, which was in atrocious weather. What made it worse one night was that a fox nipped into his team's tent and ate the flapjacks!
Tom was among 100 young people from across the county who received their DoE certificates at a special ceremony at County Hall, Exeter, earlier this month.
He received his gold certificate from Lady Clifford of Chudleigh, the High Sheriff of Devon.