A long-serving member of staff at Tewkesbury Academy, who spent more than three decades helping young people achieve their Duke of Edinburgh accreditation, has seen her work recognised during a special presentation.
Isobel Tustin started the Duke of Edinburgh (D of E) Awards at Tewksbury in 1986, and since then has assisted students in achieving an amazing total of 66 Gold awards. Isobel retired from teaching science three years ago – but even then continued with her dedicated D of E work.
Only now has Isobel reluctantly decided to stepdown as the scheme’s leader. The Tewkesbury team recognised her exceptional work by holding a small presentation.
The very first and last Tewkesbury student participants in the award were in attendance, along with some other former participants and a representative from the D of E head office. Kathleen McGillycuddy, Principal and Tewkesbury Academy’s Chair of the Academy Council, also made up the presentation party.
Isobel was presented with flowers and a congratulatory certificate from the D of E office.
Kathleen McGillycuddy Principal said: “It’s been fantastic to acknowledge the work of Isobel- she has done above and beyond over the years serving the Tewkesbury community. We are pleased that she will support students on some of our future trips and we wish her a wonderful and happy retirement.”
Sarah Williams Operations Officer for the Duke of Edinburgh Awards said: “Isobel’s involvement with DofE started in 1976 when she signed up to start her Bronze Award. In 1977 she had completed her Bronze Award, 1979 her Silver, and in 1980 her Gold Award. She was in fact, the first girl at her school to achieve a Gold Award!
Isobel set up the DofE Award at Tewkesbury School in 1987, two years after she joined the school as a science teacher, and since then, 37 years later, the programme has gone from strength to strength. From delivering expeditions locally at Bredon Hill, The Malvern’s and- The Cotswolds, to progressing further afield to locations such as Orkney, Bavaria, Corsica, Romania and Slovenia, it’s easy to see the effort that is put into DofE, to ensure that young people have an exciting and memorable journey. Hundreds of pupils at Tewkesbury School have achieved their Award because of her, and the fantastic volunteers she continues to engage and support.
Isobel even received a royal mint commemorative coin in 2021 to recognise her outstanding work. Her dedication, efforts and achievements should be highly commended, and she should be so proud of all that she has done.
Thank you, from all of us at DofE.”
