Express & Star

Harry Potter stars honour Wolverhampton headteacher

Harry Potter stars Oliver and James Phelps were on hand when a Wolverhampton headteacher was honoured for her commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh Awards scheme at Buckingham Palace.

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The twins, who play George and Fred Weasley in the Harry Potter films, presented Wolverhampton Grammar School's Kathy Crewe-Read with a special plaque at an event celebrating the scheme's 60th anniversary.

More than 1,000 young people were presented with gold awards at the event, which was also attended by celebrities including TV and film actress Anna Friel, former England rugby union star Ben Cohen, singer Ronan Keating and Strictly Come Dancing's Anton du Beke.

They had all been drafted in to help Prince Philip and the Earl and Countess of Wessex hand out badges and certificates.

Mrs Crewe-Read said: "I feel honoured to have been invited to Buckingham Palace to receive a commemorative plaque to acknowledge and say thank you for our work with the charity during its diamond anniversary year.

"Our young people are encouraged to push themselves outside of their comfort zones when doing their DofE and the skills that they develop can be life-changing, so for us to be involved is something very special."

The Phelps brothers started doing a DofE award when they were at school, but had to abandon it when they were cast in the Harry Potter films at an open audition. But Oliver said the pair still harboured ambitions of landing an award.

"People don't realise how much effort goes into achieving a gold award," he said.

"I'm thinking of playing 60 holes of golf in a day, and James wants to do something involving hiking."

Peter Westgarth, chief executive of the DofE scheme, said: "Through the DofE, Wolverhampton Grammar School is inspiring the success of its young people, equipping them with the attributes and skills to get a job and build strong relationships whilst opening up their worlds and introducing them to a broad range of interests."

For more information on the Awards visit www.dofe.org

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