A DISABLED Langbar man has shown outstanding courage and determination to achieve the coveted Gold Duke of Edinburgh award.

Peter Olby, 25, (above) who had previously gained the bronze and silver awards, had to complete a service, a skill, an expedition or exploration, a physical recreation and a residential project. As well as organising his tasks himself, he also also had to keep a written record of all his activities.

Peter, who became disabled at the age of 13 as the result of an illness, helped at a

play-group, partook in French conversation, his physical recreation was yoga and his residential project was a riding for the disabled holiday.

Peter had a choice of either an expedition or an exploration, he chose to explore river sources in the Pennine hills riding a fell pony lent to him by the Riding for the Disabled school in Burnley.

He had a team of friends and co-mates with him on the exploration who helped him with the management of the pony. Even so, Peter had to have knowledge of stable management and also skills such as map reading and understanding of the highway and country code.

Peter said: "I did my exploration on horseback. During the exploration one hill was too steep for the horse, so my friends helped me climb it."

Peter's lucky day, when he is having his award presented at St. James's Palace, London, is on Friday, November 13. He said: " I now know what achievement means."

Peter is currently doing a GNVQ in Art and Design at Shipley college and is planning another challenge on horseback for summer, next year.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.