Author Archives: Fg Off Kightly RAFAC

Annual Awards presented and Annual Review

1220 (March) Squadron Air Training Corps recently held its annual Presentation Evening. The event consisted of the presentation of annual awards, and a review of the year by the Squadron Commander, Fg Off T Kightly.

The award winners pictures with Sqn Ldr Bower RAFAC

The awards were presented by former Officer Commanding Bedfordshire and Cambridge Wing, Squadron Leader P Bower RAFAC, and Neale-Wade Academy Assistant Principal, Mr Theo Boyce.

During the review of the year, the audience heard some statistics around the achievements of the Squadron in 2019. Particularly of interest were the Duke of Edinburgh Award Statistics:

Nine cadets completed the pre-DofE award in 2019 and have been presented with a blue badge to wear on their brassard. They are Corporal Gatty, and cadets Gowler, Freeland, Mayes, Furness, Sousa, Bradshaw, Palmby and Anders.

Seven cadets completed their Bronze DofE awards in 2019. They are Corporal Gatty and cadets Lamb, Brownlie, Murray, Eves, Martin and Manze.

Three cadets were presented their Silver award. They were corporals Lynch-Cotter, Allcock and Baxter.

Sergeant Liam Hill completed his Gold Award. He is currently awaiting his invitation to attend Buckingham Palace to be formally presented his award.

The annual awards as presented, are below

Gold DofE Pin BadgeSergeant Liam Hill
Darts CompetitionCadet Joshua Mayes
Table Tennis CompetitionSergeant Liam Hill
Sqn Cdrs Attendance CupCadet Theo Freeland
Jason Wing Shield for the Highest Examination ResultsSergeant Liam Hill
Keane Shield for Best New RecruitCadet Faith Anders
Best Overall ShotFlight Sergeant Jordan Mayes
Inter-flight Drill CompetitionB Flight
Most Improved ShotCorporal Isabel Stimson
George Cross Memorial Trophy for Citizenship and Work in the CommunitySergeant Liam Hill
The Readshaw Cup awarded the Sport Cadet of the YearSergeant Liam Hill
The Mayors Diamond Jubilee Trophy for Adventure TrainingCorporal Felicity Allcock
The David Turner Memorial Trophy for MusicSergeant Liam Hill
Inter-flight CompetitionB Flight
Caldwell Lodge Trophy for the Most Improved CadetCorporal Isabel Stimson
The Junior Challenge CupCadet George Martin
Bower Challenge Trophy for Best Cadet of the YearFlight Sergeant Lauren Thompson

Jordan goes for Gold

Cadet Flight Sergeant Jordan Mayes has recently completed his Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s award, culminating in a presentation ceremony at St James’ Palace in London.

Jordan said “I’m very proud to have been able to achieve this award on my 17th birthday, and I loved every second of it”

Jordan outside St James’ Palace

To complete his award, Jordan completed a Volunteering section, where he coached and mentor other cadets, a Physical Recreation section, where he cycled in and around March, and a Skill section, where he completed his Master Cadet studies in aviation.

Jordan also completed a four-day expedition in the Lake District and a 7-day residential fieldcraft camp in Shropshire.

Jordan said “My time at the palace was amazing. Being allowed into the Throne Room at St James Palace and having my award presented by Strictly Come Dancing star Craig Revel Horwood, as well as meeting Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex was a really memorable event!

MARCH CADETS COMPLETE SILVER EXPEDITION

Recently seven cadets from 1220 (March) Squadron Air Cadets completed the expedition section of their Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

Their three-day expedition began near Castleton in the North York Moors, and took them through Westerdale and Farndale Moors.

Cadet Chris Howsam (15), said “The expedition was really worthwhile and I am pleased to have completed the expedition section.”

After camping in the valley, their second day took them past the disused mines in the area. They then took a route along the top of the moor where they camped in Rosedale.

The final day of their expedition took them across Wheeldale moor and finished in Goathland, the village where the ITV television series Heartbeat is set.

 

Pictured is the team at the end of the expedition. From left: Cadet Rebecca Stimson, Cadet Corporal Sophie Reeve, Cadet Corporal Liam Hill, Cadet Jason Sharman, Cadet Chris Howsam, Cadet Corporal Lauren Lynch-Cotter, Cadet Corporal Lauren Thompson

MARCH AIR CADETS COMPLETE EXPEDITION IN WOBURN

Seven air cadets from 1220 (March) Squadron recently took part in expedition in Bedfordshire. For three of the cadets who took part, this counts towards the expedition section of their award; the other four took this opportunity to improve their skills in preparation for their assessed expedition next year.

1220 cadets at the end of their expedition

1220 cadets at the end of their expedition

The route started at Great Brickhill in Bedfordshire and took them towards Woburn. They walked through the Woburn Abbey deer park and camped at Milton Bryan. On the second day they walked along part of the Greensand Ridge walk to finish near Flitwick.

The cadets found the Milton Bryan campsite particularly interesting because a building on the site was used as a radio station, which was used to broadcast false information and misleading propaganda into Nazi Germany during World War Two.

All seven cadets carried everything they would need for the two days, including their tents, cookers, food and spare clothes. They cooked and ate their own food, which consisted of breakfast, and a sausage, pasta and sauce concoction for evening meal.

Cadet Ross Tunley said “I thoroughly enjoyed my expedition and have achieved something I didn’t think I’d be able to do. Even though it was hard at times I found that the effort paid off at the end.”

MARCH AIR CADET PUTS BEST FOOT FORWARD

Alfie Jaggard (16), an air cadet from 1220 (March) Squadron, has recently returned triumphant after completed the gruelling 100 mile Nijmegen road march in Holland.

Alfie Jaggard with his Nijmegan badge

Alfie Jaggard with his Nijmegan badge

The “Vierdaagse” (Dutch for “four-day event”) is an annual walk that has taken place since 1909, and has been based at Nijmegen since 1916. There are different routes to take part in, with Alfie and his team completing 100 miles over four days. Numbers have risen in recent years, with over 40,000 taking part; it is now the world’s largest walking event. Many participants take part every year, including several that have taken part in 50, and even 60 different annual marches.

Each day of the marches is named after the biggest town it goes through. Tuesday is the day of Elst, Wednesday the day of Wijchen, Thursday the day of Groesbeek and Friday the day of Cuijk. On the Friday, as participants near the finish, spectators award the walkers with gladioli, a symbol of force and victory since Roman times.

Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire Wing takes part in the marches every year and 2014 proved to be yet another successful year, with everyone completing the route and earning the coveted “Vieradaagse Kruis” medal. During their time in Holland, the team was able to pay its respect to those that lost their lives in Operation Market Garden, laying a wreath at the Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery.

The success was the culmination of eight months of intense training including completion of the Waendel Walk, which takes place in the area around Wellingborough covering over 52 miles.

Team leader Flight Sergeant (ATC) Alan Starling, who completed the marches for a fifth time, said “The team has found the training programme challenging, everyone has put a huge amount of effort into their own performances and supporting others in the team. As a result everyone completed the route and can wear their Nijmegen Medal with great pride.”

Alfie said, “I’m so proud to have completed the walk and look forward to next year. I would highly recommend it.”