A carpet of celandines (again)

There’s only one event today, that of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh this morning. I was at the allotment when the news broke. It’s a poignant moment for me as I was given his name as my first name.

It feels to me like the the beginning of the end of an era. The majority of people in this country, including me, are of the second Elizabethan age, having known no other monarch.

He said and did things that upset people and weren’t very diplomatic. Whether you’re a monarchist or not his legacies are immense and I dare say many of us will have our own personal memories of his impact.

For me it was the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. I didn’t take part in the scheme as a youngster only participating as a teacher helping students through their PE, Service and Expedition sections. I have lasting memories of accompanying Gold Award expeditions in the Lakes, on one occasion having to bivouac overnight in a ski hut on the slopes of Helvellyn. The Award Scheme changed thousands lives for the good and will be a lasting memorial to him.

Thanks to BikerBear? for hosting Flower Friday.