Page 77 - Bugle Autumn 2023

SOUTH WEST
On 17th June 2023, Wellington School
CCF were invited to join The Rifles at the Freedom Parade for the Rifles in Wellington, Somerset. The CCF Cadets and Officers were honoured and proud to have the opportunity to join the parade.
Wellington School has a deep-rooted connection with The Rifles. Our Memorial Chapel remembers many former pupils (Old Wellingtonians) who lost their lives serving in their local battalion, The Somerset Light Infantry. It was special for the school to host the parade, that started and finished on the Quad, which is overlooked by the Memorial Chapel.
Working with The Rifles for the parade was a great honour and the opportunity to march with regular and reserve soldiers was a real privilege. Understandably the cadets were impressed by the unique drill movements and speed of the marching. The Rifles Band played fantastic music and our school’s Corps of Drums were in awe of their skill and the musical quality.
In the opinion of our cadets, the best moment of the day was the feeling of being
an integral part of the parade and marching through the town with thousands of local residents watching. This gave everyone a great sense of pride and an opportunity to march alongside the Army Cadet Force (ACF). We were all able to be part of this historic day. Cadet WO1 (RSM) Pierre Clifford
Lower Sixth Form, Wellington School CCF
The Rifles Band played fantastic music and our school’s Corps of Drums were in awe of their skill and the musical quality
Haberdashers’ Adams CCF Appoints Contingent Commander and Senior Cadet
The school is delighted with the appointment of our new Contingent Commander, Major Frankie O’Connor and Senior Cadet, Serjeant William Dally.
Major O’Connor served in the army for 35 years. After entering service aged
18, as a private soldier with the Irish Rangers, Major O’Connor was later commissioned and served 12 years as an officer. His ties to Haberdashers’ Adams and Shropshire are strong. Having been posted to Tern
Hill Barracks, his son was a boarder at Adams.
Major O’Connor says: “The CCF is
a fantastic
youth organisation. It offers a cadet the opportunity to develop in confidence and feel comfortable standing out from the crowd. It
has the potential to draw a person out that the classroom cannot always
achieve.”
The Adams CCF currently
has 140 cadets which makes it the largest extra-curricular
option at Haberdashers’ Adams. To recognise this,
a new student leadership position of Senior
Cadet has been
created with Serjeant William Dally awarded the role for 2023/24.
Serjeant Dally has been a cadet for 5-years, unusually spending time in both RAF and Army Sections. He says “I never planned to join the CCF, but after a couple of taster sessions, was drawn into the adventure!”
Last year Serjeant Dally was appointed Her Majesty’s CCF Lord Lieutenant’s Cadet for Shropshire. It was
a significant year to be in the role, with the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and
coronation of King Charles III. Serjeant Dally adds: “This year has also been a big year for royal visits to Shropshire;
I have met and escorted both the Queen Consort and the Duchess of Edinburgh on separate occasions.”
RIFLES The Bugle 77
WELLINGTON SCHOOL