2010 QE leaver Amar Amlani has been awarded his Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award in a ceremony at St James’s Palace.
He excelled in several of the five categories he was required to complete for gold – volunteering, skills, physical recreation, expedition and residential. Amar volunteered for the Red Cross for 12 months and did public speaking for six months, taking grade 6 (Bronze) and grade 8 (Gold) examinations with LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art), both with Distinction.
He completed a five-day expedition on foot in the Peak District and Snowdonia despite terrible weather conditions. His team showed good knowledge of navigation, campcraft and cooking. Amar completed a residential opportunity with Medlink, a course held at Nottingham University’s School of Medicine, where he spent a week attending lectures and staying in halls of residence. He also pursued weightlifting for 18 months.
Amar, who was a Senior Prefect in his final year, completed A-levels in Mathematics, Economics, History and Chemistry in 2010 and won a place to study Economics at Nottingham.
He was following proudly in the footsteps of his older brother, Akhil, another D of E Gold winner. Akhil left QE in 2008 a few months after winning the title of London Region Climate Change Champion and consequently meeting PM Gordon Brown. He used the prize money to create the eco-garden in the School’s Fern Building.