I WAS privileged to be asked to present Duke Of Edinburgh Awards at Poole High School last Tuesday.

Together with awards that I presented last year, over 200 local young people achieved what are very difficult awards which have been described as the world’s finest achievement award for young people.

I understand that the numbers of winners in Poole this year are higher than ever before and are well above the national average.

I would like to publicly thank all of the volunteers who made this possible, but above all congratulate all of those young people who have undertaken this challenge and succeeded.

It serves to remind us that the youth of today are just as responsible and achieving as at any time in the past.

CHRIS BULTEEL, Mayor of Poole