DofE Diamond Award for Mr Lindon

October 18, 2016

ken-lindon-diamond-award2Congratulations to Mr Lindon who has achieved the notable honour of being awarded a Duke of Edinburgh Diamond award. Here is his report on this wonderful achievement which acts not only as a reminder of the value of the DofE scheme but also a gentle nudge to all of us who could maybe get out there and give this type of thing a go ourselves!

As part of the 60th anniversary of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme adult leaders and coordinators were “encouraged” to have a go and complete a challenge and raise money for the award scheme and in return they would be awarded the Duke of Edinburgh Diamond Award.

As a former member of the Long Distance Walkers Association I decided that walking a long distant path would be the way ahead. I’ve also been in the Army in one guise or another for almost 45 years so combining these two things in August I decided to walk the Epynt Way, a 40 mile route around the boundary of the military training area at Sennybridge. The circular bridleway follows on or near to the boundary of the Ministry of Defence’s Sennybridge Training Area (SENTA), a danger area closed to the public under military by laws, except for the Epynt Way, a permissive bridleway which is normally open to walkers, horse riders and cyclists but any temporary safety restrictions must be observed.
ken-lindon-diamond-awardThe uplands of the Epynt Plateau lie between the Brecon Beacons to the South and the Cambrian Mountains to the North. Mynydd Epynt is a wild plateau covered largely by blanket bog and grass, cut by streams valleys with woodland and meadows that flow south to the River Usk. The area became famous as the breeding ground for Welsh Cobs – the name Epynt originating from an ancient expression meaning “haunt of horse”.

I am extremely grateful to all those who sponsored my efforts and supported me over the two days of the walk. It made me realize that I am now far closer to sixty than sixteen.