A BASINGSTOKE teacher has completed a prestigious guiding award in just a year, despite battling a condition that leaves her in constant pain.

Kathryn Clews, who runs the 24th Basingstoke Brownies that meets at All Saints’ Church, in Southern Road, found out last August that she has completed the Queen’s Guide Award after just 12 months – an award which normally takes two years to complete.

However, it wasn’t all plain sailing for Kathryn as she completed the award at the same time as studying for a teaching qualification and suffers from Fibromyalgia – a condition which causes fatigue, increased sensitivity to pain, muscle stiffness and headaches.

To complete the award, participants have to take an active role in guiding at a range of levels, build teamwork and leadership skills in an outdoor challenge, start a new skill and develop it, get involved in a community project and carry out a research project on the topic and take part in a three-day residential course with new people.

The 26-year-old, who is a reception year teacher at Merton Infant School, in Popley, is now waiting for an invite to officially receive the award from a member of the Royal Family.

Kathryn, who lives in Wellington Terrace, Winklebury, told The Gazette: “I don’t think it has fully sunk in yet. I didn’t believe I was going to get it.

“It was hard work. Moving is hard so I can’t do a lot of running around or walking and I get headaches, sleep a lot and get pain in my joints. Fibromyalgia affects everything.

“The reason I rushed doing the award is because you have to complete it within three years or before you turn 26, so I started just before my 25th birthday.”

She added: “It is the highest award you can win in guiding and I will get to meet someone royal, but I don’t know who yet. I am waiting for the letter and I would quite like to meet Prince Harry, but I have been told it is more likely to be Princess Anne.”