Duke of Edinburgh commemorative stone celebrating Moray beginnings unveiled at Moray College UHI
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A commemorative stone to celebrate the local roots of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme has been unveiled on the grounds of Moray College UHI.
The stone is situated on the site of the old Elgin Academy building and was unveiled by Nancy Robson, the Vice Lord-Lieutenant for Moray at a ceremony on February 11.
This stone forms part of the Duke of Edinburgh Moray trail, which celebrates the award's local roots and currently includes commemorative stones in Fochabers and Elgin Academy, alongside a plaque at Moray Council's headquarters.
There is also an exhibition at the Fochabers Heritage and Folk Museum and a further stone will also be unveiled at Gordonstoun School to honour Moray's unique position in the history of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Karen Delaney, Moray Council’s former Duke of Edinburgh award manager said: “This stone serves as a reminder to students and visitors that they can participate in D of E up until they are 25 years old, and can also learn and share skills at any age as a volunteer. They will be building on a rich heritage.”
The award scheme was created in 1956 by the late Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, in collaboration with his former Gordonstoun Headmaster, Kurt Hahn.
The Duke was a keen outdoorsman and hoped that the award would support young people to develop interpersonal skills by partaking in outdoor expeditions and volunteering activities.
The award continues to be popular in Scotland, with 16,638 young people starting the programme this year and has become celebrated worldwide due to the Duke of Edinburgh International Award, which is operational in more than 130 countries, allowing young people everywhere to continue building confidence and resilience through the scheme.
Principal and Chief Executive of Moray College UHI, David Patterson said: "We’re delighted to have our place in history recognised in establishing Moray’s D of E story with the unveiling of the stone at Moray College UHI.
"D of E is about building skills and confidence, creating your own path plus giving back to the community, which aligns well with our core values and our mission here to be at the heart of transformation in Moray and for people in Moray."
